WNCC, NJC split doubleheader; Cougars fall to second in Empire Conference play

The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped from first to second after splitting a doubleheader Wednesday evening at Cleveland Field against Northeastern Junior College.

The Cougars fell 7-3 in the opener as Plainsmen pitcher Ty Cardona held the Cougar’s run to a minimum in collecting the win. WNCC rebounded in game two, pounding out 12 hits to secure a 12-4 win.

WNCC is now tied with Lamar Community College for second with a 15-9 record in Empire Conference play. Trinidad State Junior College leads the region with a 14-8 record. WNCC and Trinidad will square off in a contest in Trinidad on Saturday.

The Cougars could have taken control of the conference race if they would have swept. That didn’t happen as the team missed too many scoring opportunities. WNCC left runners in scoring position in the first four innings.

The second game was a different story as WNCC pounded the ball and took advantage of a numerous NJC mistakes to earn the split. The Cougars took control early, scoring four runs in the second on three hits. They also scored all four runs with two outs, including a double by Pedro Suarez for a 4-0 lead.

The Cougars added two more in the third as Moreno, Carson Cook and Travis Lindhorst all hammered singles for a 6-0 lead.

NJC responded with four runs in the fourth inning on just two hits to slice the deficit to 6-4. Jeff McDonald then took to the mound in relief of Eneldis Vazquez, and shut down the Plainsmen bats striking out four of the final 12 outs.

WNCC, in the meantime, gave McDonald some breathing room with six runs in the fifth inning, including six singles. Moreno’s 2-RBI bloop single that fell between three players ignited the Cougars. After that, the flood gates opened to allow WNCC to take a 12-4 lead.

The Cougars had four players collect multiple hits. Moreno and Cook led the way with 3-for-4 efforts. Moreno also had four RBIs and two runs scored, while Cook had three singles and three runs scored.

Also collecting multiple hits were Lindhorst going 2-for-3 with a run scored and Suarez with a 2-for-4 day, including a double.

The second game win was needed after the way the Cougars played in game one, not being able to capitalize on prime scoring chances. WNCC did, however, get hits, but not when needed.

WNCC had three extra base hits in the first game – all doubles. Richie Stewart ripped a first-inning two-bagger only to get stranded. Then, in the fourth, Abraham Cervantez doubled to put two on with no outs. But, Cervantez was the only runner to score in the inning to keep NJC ahead 5-2.

Gilbert Gonzalez recorded the final double to lead off the sixth inning. Gonzalez finally came racing home on a sacrifice fly by Marco Moreno for the team’s final run.

Chris Cuadra picked up the loss on the mound, going five innings and giving up seven runs and eight hits. The sophomore also struck out six Plainsmen.

First Game
NJC 002 320 0 – 7 9 1
WNCC 001 100 0 – 3 8 2
WP – Cardona, LP – Cuadra; 2B – WNCC (Stewart, Gonzalez, Cervantez), NJC (Warren, Welsh).

Second Game
NJC 000 400 0 – 4 4 3
WNCC 042 060 x – 12 12 1
WP – Vazquez, LP – Colon; 2B – WNCC (Suarez), NJC (Feiner).