WNCC wins 26th game of year, downs McCook, splits with North Platte

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team finally awakened offensively Sunday in game two against North Platte Community and Monday against McCook Community College to earn their 26th victory of the season, just two short of a school record set last season.

The Cougars split a doubleheader with North Platte on Sunday falling 4-0 before winning 12-2, on a 3-run walk-off home run by Lauren Mills. The team then traveled to McCook on Monday and swept the Indians 5-2 and 15-2.

The two wins Monday locked up the No. 2 spot in the regional tournament, and it was a contrast of styles in the wins. In the first game, the Cougars managed just five hits in getting the 5-2 win. Natasha Dypchey picked up the win striking out six and walking two.

Ashley Eichelberger led the offense going 1-for-3, including a double in the first to score two runs. She finished the game with three RBIs. Kara Ryman also stepped up with a 1-for-4 performance and two RBIs. Jessica Ventoza continued her march to the stolen base record notching two stolen bases in a 1-for-4 game.

The second game was much different then the first. WNCC pounded out 15 hits in the 15-2 win. Jessica Pexton picked up the win, striking out one and scattering eight hits.

WNCC took control of the game early scoring four times in the opening inning on singles by Ventoza, Jessie McNabb, Eichelberger and Amanda Torimaru. Lauren Mills then delivered a big double to put the Cougars up 4-0. The score ballooned to 8-1 after three innings and then 13-2 after four.

McNabb finished the game going 4-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and two stolen bases, followed by Torimaru with a 3-3 performance and three RBIs. Ventoza finished 2-fo4 with three stolen bases, followed by Mills with a 2-3 game and two RBIs, and Eichelberger going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Monday’s contests were very similar to Sunday’s contests – the team starts slow in the first game and heats up in the second. In fact, on Sunday, the Cougars limped into the second game having been shut out for 19 innings in the weekend’s homestand. After two innings of the second game, the scoreless streak ballooned to 21 innings. Finally, the Cougars broke the ice and once they did, they rattled off 12 runs on 15 hits for the victory.

The runfest started in the third inning as Whittany Foster rocketed a double off the fence. After an error to put Ventoza on base, and with two outs, the Cougars recorded three straight hits by Ryman, McNabb and Eichelberger for a 3-1 lead.

WNCC added another run in the fourth as Lauren Bourdon scored. They then put up four runs in the fifth inning as McNabb and Eichelberger recorded singles followed by Torimaru loading the bases after being plunked by a pitch. Bourdon and Foster followed with back-to-back 2-run scoring doubles to push the lead to 8-1. All the Cougars needed was one more run to call the game because of the 8-run rule, but they couldn't get the run across.

That allowed North Platte to score one run in the sixth inning, but it also gave Lauren Mills an opportunity for some dramatics. After Eichelberger and Torimaru recorded back-to-back singles, Bourdon loaded the bases by getting hit by a pitch. Foster came through with a run-scoring groundout, before Mills unleashed on a towering 3-run home run that easily sailed over the scoreboard in left field to end the game.

Eichelberger led the team with a 4-for-4 performance including two runs scores. Foster finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Also collecting multiple hits included Bourdon with a 2-for-3 performance including a double, 2 RBIs and three runs scored, McNabb 2-for-4, and Ventoza with a 3-for-4 effort.

WNCC will next be in action Friday when they host McCook Community College in the team’s final home game of the season at volunteer Field beginning at noon.

Sunday’s Games
Game 1
NPCC 000 400 0 – 4
WNCC 000 000 0 – 0
LP – Dypchey
Game 2
NPCC 100 001 – 2 8 1
WNCC 003 144 – 12 17 0
WP – Dypchey. 2B – Foster 2, Bourdon 1; HR – Mills.

Monday’s Games
Game 1
WNCC 220 010 0 – 5 5
McCook 200 000 0 – 5 9
WP – Dypchey; 2B – Ryman, Eichelberger.
Game 2
WNCC (26-15) 404 52 – 15 15
McCook 001 10 – 2 8
WP – Pexton; 2B – McNabb 2, Mills, Ryman.