WNCC softball take two from McCook, breaks school record for wins in a season

Western Nebraska Community College freshman Jessica Pexton not only pitched the team to two victories Friday, she also provided some offense from the plate as the Cougars defeated McCook Community College 15-1 and 11-3

Friday’s two wins also set a school record for wins in a season, eclipsing last year’s season total of 27.

The Cougars, now 28-15 on the season, still have three weekends of games to left in the season, including this weekend’s games at the Colby Community College Invitational.

Jessie McNabb, who finished the doubleheader going 4-for-7 with a double and triple, said they can’t be satisfied with just 28 wins.

“We are happy with setting the record, but I don’t think it is time to be satisfied,” she said. “We have to keep working towards more. Forty wins is our goal, now.”

McNabb was also happy with the way Pexton pitched, holding the McCook hitters at bay. Pexton allowed seven hits and four runs, while striking out six and walking just four in the two games.

“Pex pitched really well and we are all happy for her [to get the home run],” McNabb said. “We played alright as a team. We are starting to come together as a team and make the plays, Kara and I turning a nice double.”

Pexton said they are starting to regain their focus from early this season when they won 11 straight games.

“I thought we played really well. We came out strong and finished strong,” she said. “We just have to keep our focus and composure and finish the season strong.”

But, it was Pexton’s first collegiate home run in the second game that sparked the team, and it came to a surprise to her.

“I thought I popped up,” she said. “I was just thinking I didn’t want to strike out; I just want to hit the ball.”

Pexton’s hit came in the second inning, and with a two-strike count on her, she said she was looking to kist make contact. She did, taking a fastball over the outfield fence for a 2-run shot to give the Cougars a 3-0 lead.

WNCC added two more runs in the third to lead 5-0 before adding three in the fourth and fifth for the win.

Pexton, McNabb and Jessica Ventoza paced the Cougars from the plate with 3-for-4 performances. Pexton finished with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs, while McNabb had a double and two RBIs. Ventoza finished with two singles, three runs scored and one walk.

WNCC finished with eight hits in the second game, their 28^th win, but they pounded the ball even better in the opener, where they finished with 18 hits, including four extra base hits. McNabb had two of the extra base hits, collecting a double, triple and three RBIs. Whittany Foster and Amanda Hensley each collected a double in the second inning.

In fact, Foster’s shot to leftfield scored two runs to break a 1-1 tie. After that, the Cougar bats exploded as Ventoza and Ashley Eichelberger each had RBI singles followed by Hensley’s 2-RBI double for a 7-1 lead.

WNCC added eight more runs in the fourth inning, with Ventoza and McNabb each collecting two hits in the inning. Ventoza started the inning with a single and then scored on McNabb’s triple. The Cougars followed with five straight singles on their way to the 15-1 win.

Ventoza paced the Cougars with a 4-for-4 performance, including four runs scored, two RBIs and four stolen bases. McNabb went 2-for-4 with three RBIs followed by Kara Ryman with a 2-for-4 game.

Also collecting multiple hits were Eichelberger with a 2-for-4 performance, Hensley with a 2-for-3 performance, Amanda Torimaru at 2-for-3, and Lauren Mills going 2-for-2.

First Game
McCook 010 00 — 1 5 1
WNCC 160 8x — 15 18 1
WP — Pexton, LP — Brianne Nutty; 2B — WNCC (McNabb, Foster, Hensley), McCook (Stacy Gernelli); 3B — WNCC (McNabb).
Second Game
McCook 000 12 — 3 2 2
WNCC (28-15) 140 33 — 11 8 1
WP — Pexton, LP — Courtney Nevarez; 2B — WNCC (McNabb), McCook (Nutty); 3B — WNCC (Ventoza); HR — WNCC (Pexton).