Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports Reporter
PHOENIX - After having its offense held in check on Tuesday, the Western Nebraska Community College baseball team didn't have any trouble scoring runs in a 13-2 thumping of Gateway Community College (Ariz.) on Wednesday afternoon in Phoenix.
The Cougars broke open a tight game with three runs in the fourth inning before erupting for seven runs in the fifth to pull away.
"I thought we looked a lot stronger today," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We had much quicker bats and we were mentally focused much better today."
WNCC, now 12-13 on the season, will continue its six-day spring break road trip today with a pair of nine-inning games. The Cougars will face South Mountain Community College at 11 a.m. before taking on Chandler-Gilbert Community College at 6 p.m.
In Wednesday's win, WNCC received another stellar pitching performance. Freshman Armani Gonzalez struck out four in six innings of work to record his first victory of the season. Gonzalez allowed just two first-inning runs and scattered just five hits.
"Armani threw a good game," Jones said. "He threw a lot of strikes and he got stronger as the game went along. He pitched a great ball game for us."
Offensively, four different Cougars finished with multiple hits. Josh Parker led the way by going 3-for-4 with three singles. Jason Sloan, Aurelio Monteagudo and Alex Arias all added two hits each. Arias finished with a triple and three runs batted in. Monteagudo also drove in three. Sloan and Monteagudo both had doubles.
In today's games, Jones said Tim Kupfner will get the start on the mound against South Mountain and Ben Doran will start against Chandler-Gilbert.
"It will be a long day," Jones said. "Both teams are really good ball clubs. These two teams, along with Central Arizona, are going to be the best teams we face down here."
WNCC (12-13) 100 370 2 - 13
Gateway 200 000 0 - 2
WP - Armani Gonzalez (1-1).
3B - Alex Arias. 2B - Jason Sloan, Aurelio Monteagudo.
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