WNCC softball downs Hastings College J.V.

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team picked up its 30^th win of the season, and freshman pitcher Natasha Dypchey earned her 20^th win as the Cougars blanked the Hastings College Junior Varsity 9-0 in a nine-inning game Friday.

The Cougars managed 17 hits in the contest and head coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said after a slow start, the team responded offensively.

“We struggled early because we didn’t know what was going on with the game. They had us scheduled for Sunday,” But after four innings, we settled down and our hitting was contagious and we started playing pretty well.”

The Cougars broke the goose egg on the scoreboard with a single run in the fourth inning as Lauren Mills single and scored on a Kara Ryman single for the 1-0 lead.

Things continued to click for WNCC with another run in the sixth as Jessie McNabb singled and scored on a Ashley Eichelberger double.

WNCC opened the game in the eighth inning scoring six runs on six hits. The big hits were doubles by Ryman and Lauren Bourdon. Mills finished off the scoring in the inning with a 2-RBI single to put the Cougars up 8-0.

The Cougars final run came in the ninth. Bourdon led off by drawing a walk followed by a single by Whittany Foster. Bourdon then scored on a Jessie Ventoza hit.

WNCC had five players record multiple hits. Eichelberger led the way with a 3-for-3 performance, including a double, two singles, a RBI and a runs scored. Foster finished the game going 4-for-5, with all singles. McNabb went 3-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs.

Mills and Ryman each collected two hits. Mills went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBIs, while Ryman went 2-for-5 with a double, RBI and run scored.

While the Cougars offense heated up – the team batted .425 for the game (17 of 40), the pitching staff did a stellar job in the circle. Dypchey picked up the win going five innings while scattering five hits and striking out six. Pexton threw the final four innings, allowing four hits and striking out one.

Winn said it feels good to get 30 wins, first time in school history. As for 40 wins, it will take some excellent play.

“It will be a challenge to get 40 wins,” she said. “But anything can happen.”

WNCC is back in action today and Sunday when they compete in the Iowa Western tournament. WNCC will face Iowa Lakes Community College today at 8 a.m. followed by Southeastern Community College at 10 a.m. and Iowa Western at 3 p.m.. The Cougars will wrap up tournament play Sunday as they face Iowa Central at noon and Morningside College junior varsity at 2 p.m.

WNCC (30-17) 000 101 061 – 9 17
Hastings JV 000 000 000 – 0 9

WP – Dypchey; 2B – Ryman, Eichelberger, Bourdon.