The Western Nebraska Community College baseball jumped above the .500 mark for the first time this season after earning a 4-2 win over Colorado State University Tuesday evening at a chilly Cleveland Field.
WNCC is now 16-15 on the season. The Cougars will play Trinidad State in a key, four-game series Saturday and Sunday.
"This is not baseball weather, but it was good for us to get a chance to play before we play Trinidad," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "It is a big weekend for us coming up so it was important for us to get back into the game speed a little bit."
Jones and the Cougars were also glad they had the opportunity to get on the field since weather has forced several postponements.
"We had that real bad cold snap and we couldn't do much. We gave the guys plenty of time off and it was just important for us to get out and play again," he said. "We just needed to see pitching and we had nine pitchers that went out there and got to face live hitters. It was just good for us get back into action."
Even with the extended delay between games, the Cougar pitching staff sparkled by combining for 13 strikeouts in the nine-inning game. Ilich Santos picked up the win and nine total pitchers went to the mound each inning.
"I was really proud of the way all nine of our guys went out and threw today," Jones said. "It is cold. They got prepared down in the bullpen and they took their time and they did what they needed to do to get ready to pitch."
The pitching staff was stellar as five different pitchers struck out at least two batters in one inning of work - Phillips Orta, Stantos, Cesar Perez, Eric Bissonette and Dan Bauer - each fanned at least two. The staff also scattered seven hits and walked just five batters.
While the pitchers were flourishing, the Cougars' bats quickly took command of the game by scoring three runs in the first inning on one hit and four walks. The big hit in the inning was a double by JC Perez, which scored two runs.
Both teams added one run in the fifth inning. Colorado State scored on a leadoff walk and then a two out single by Caleb Bond.
WNCC responded in the bottom of the frame. Pedro Suarez led off the inning by reaching base on a throwing error. Two batters later, Suarez scored on an Eneldis Vazquez groundball out for a 4-1 lead.
Colorado State sliced the lead in half with a run in the eighth inning, but the Cougars' final two pitchers, Chris Cuadra and Dan Bauer, shut down the Rams' by striking out three of the final six batters.
WNCC managed five hits on the night. Perez went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs to lead the team. The other hits came from Daniel Martinez, Richie Stewart, Carson Cook and Travis Lindhorst.
The Cougars, who have won three straight, will look to keep winning this weekend against Trinidad State in Empire Conference games. WNCC sets on top of the conference standings at 9-3 followed by Lamar at 10-4 and Northeastern Junior College at 8-4. The winner of the conference hosts regionals in May.
"These are really big games for us," Jones said about the Cougars' doubleheaders with Trinidad State. "We have a chance to take some big strides in the conference standings. We're in the driver's seat right now and we just have to make sure we play our game."
CSU 000 010 010 - 2 7 3
WNCC (16-15) 300 010 00x - 4 5 2
WP - Stantos, LP - Bobby Moller. 2B - WNCC (Perez).
No comments:
Post a Comment