WNCC softball wins two against Barton Communtiy College

GREAT BEND, Kan. -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team picked up home runs by Katie Groves and Kelsie Garner as the Cougars won twice over Barton Community College Friday. WNCC collected 7-2 and 7-6 for their 9^th wins of the season.

In the opener, WNCC put up a five-run third inning to take a 5-0 lead. Alec Voci started things with a double and scored on a Alyssa Hickey single. Adena Hagen followed with a run-scoring double. With the score 3-0, Groves slapped a 2-run run shot, for her sixth home run of the season for the 5-0 lead.

WNCC added two insurance runs in the fifth inning as Garner roped a two RBI double for a 7-1 lead.

Garner picked up the win in the circle, going six innings, striking out 13 and scattering five hits. Stephanie Townsend pitched the final inning allowing a hit and a run.

Hagen paced the Cougars going 2-for-4 with a double, run scored and a RBI. Groves went 1-for-2 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs, while Garner went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a double.

While the Cougars pounded out six hits in game one, their bats were a little bit more solid in the second game, rapping 11 hits. Four players finished with multiple hits. Groves went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two singles, while Garner went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a home run. Kelly Pearson went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while Tonya Atencio was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two singles.

The Cougars scored two runs in the opening inning as Groves singled and scored on Garner home run. WNCC added a single run in the second only to watch Barton score three times in the bottom of the frame to tie the score 3-3.

Barton took a 5-3 lead after three innings before the Cougars came back with a single run in the fourth and two runs in the fifth.

The fifth inning saw the Cougars score two runs on three hits. Brittany Chacon started things by getting plunked with a pitch. Groves followed with a single followed by Pearson rapping out a single. Groves scored the first run and then Pearson scored on a Garner single for the 6-5 lead.

Casey Simpson picked up the win going six innings, scattering nine hits and allowing five runs. Simpson struck out three and walked four. Garner got the save, throwing the seventh inning while striking out two.

WNCC (9-10) will be back in action Saturday and Sunday in the Cloud County Tournament in Concordia, Kan. WNCC will face Colby at 9:30 a.m., Iowa Lakes Community College at 11:30 a.m. and Iowa Western Community College at 3:30 p.m.

Game One
WNCC 005 002 0 – 7 6
Barton 000 100 1 – 2 6
WP – Garner; 2B – Hagen, Garner, Alec Voci; HR – Groves

Game Two
WNCC (9-10) 210 120 0 – 6 11
Barton 032 000 0 – 5 9
WP – Simpson; Save – Garner; 2B – Pearson; HR – Garner.