WNCC softball splits contests at Marshalltown tournament

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team battled the elements Friday at the Marshalltown Tournament, splitting a pair of games.

WNCC fell 3-1 to NCAA Division III Simpson College despite a fine pitching performance from Ashley Patton. The Cougars came back and defeated Marshalltown Community College behind a 12 strikeout performance from Kelsey Garner.

Head coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said that the weather conditions were not favorable as they battled 30 degree temperatures and a wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph blowing straight in.

In the opening game, Simpson College scored three runs in the opening inning on three hits. The big blow was a error with the bases loaded.

WNCC, who are ranked 20^th in the latest NJCAA poll, came back to slice the lead to 3-1 in the third inning as Amanda Hensley and Jessie McNabb singled. Lauren Bourdon followed with a run-scoring single to score Hensley.

The Cougars couldn’t get any closer, despite Patton shutting down the Storm’s offense the rest of the way, allowing one hit after the first inning.

Offensively, WNCC managed just five hits, led by Whittany Foster with a 1-for-1 game, followed by McNabb going 1-for-2.

WNCC found the going a little bit better in the second game against Marshalltown. However, both teams were hooked up in a pitcher’s dual until the sixth inning when the Cougars plated six runs on four hits.

Amanda Torimaru got the offensive started with a double, followed by Kayli Allen reaching base on a fielder’s choice and error to put two runners. The Cougars then had three straight singles by Foster, Hensley and Alec Voci to give WNCC a 4-0 lead.

That was all they needed as Garner had another outstanding outing in the circle, picking up her 26^th win of the season allowing one hit, in the first inning. Garner also struck out 12 and walked three in the game.

Natasha Dypchey and Voci paced the Cougars with two hits apiece. Voci went 2-for-2 with a run scored, RBI and two singles, while Dypchey went 2-for-4 with a RBI, two singles and a stolen base.

WNCC, 48-7, is scheduled to play three games today in the Mashalltown tournament, weather permitting.

First Game
WNCC 001 000 0 – 1 5 1
Simpson 300 000 x – 2 4 1
LP – Patton

Marshalltown 000 000 0 – 0 1 3
WNCC 000 004 0 – 4 7 2
WP – Garner; 2B – Torimaru.