WNCC baseball team sweeps McCook in doubleheader

Submitted By Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports Reporter

MCCOOK - Eighth-inning home runs by Carlos Garcia and Rudy Soto lifted the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team to a sweep of McCook Community College Tuesday in McCook.

The home runs capped a five-run eighth inning in game two as the Cougars registered a 7-2 win. WNCC also took the opener by a score of 6-4. The victories improved WNCC's record to 6-4 heading into the team's first weekend of Region IX action on Saturday in Lamar, Colo.

"We found a way to win," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "It was chilly, windy and not a good day for baseball, but we managed to come out with two wins."

In game two, the teams played to a 2-2 tie through seven innings. But it was Garcia's three-run blast and Soto's two-run dinger that proved to be the difference for the Cougars in the top of the eighth. In addition to providing the Cougars with some insurance, Soto also earned the win on the mound in relief of Gustavo Sanchez. Soto took the mound in the bottom of the sixth with one out and runners on first and second. He managed to get out of the jam with a strikeout and flyout.

Garcia led the Cougars offensively in game two by going 2-for-4 with three runs batted in, a double and a home run. Chris Hook went 2-for-3 in the game and Soto and Norbert Susini each added a hit.

In getting the no decision, Sanchez struck out seven in four innings of work.
In game one, WNCC jumped out to a 5-0 lead before holding on for the 6-4 win. The Cougars pounded out nine hits in the game. Both Garcia and Soto went 2-for-3 offensively. Garcia drove in two runs and had a double, while Soto finished with a double and a triple.

Victor Rubio earned the win on the mound. He struck out one in five innings of work. Jeff Fauss collected the save by pitching the final inning and a third.

"We've been swinging the bats pretty well and we did that again today," Jones said. "But we really need to clean things up on defense. We committed six errors today and that's something we need to improve on."

Against Lamar on Saturday, Jones said Greg Crowe and Eric Bissonette are scheduled to get the starts on the mound. WNCC will then travel to Otero Junior College on Sunday for another Region IX doubleheader.

Game One
WNCC       012 021 0 - 6 9 4
McCook       000 022 0 - 4 9 1
WP - Victor Rubio; S - Jeff Fauss.
3B - Rudy Soto; 2B - Soto, Carlos Garcia.

Game Two
WNCC (6-4) 002 000 05 - 7 8 2
McCook         000 200 00 - 2 6 0
WP - Rudy Soto.
HR - Soto, Carlos Garcia; 3B - Norbert Susini; 2B - Garcia.