Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports Reporter
LA JUNTA, Colo. - The Region IX baseball standings grew a little tighter after Otero Junior College posted a pair of one-run wins over Western Nebraska Community College on Monday afternoon in La Junta, Colo.
The wins pulled the Rattlers into a virtual tie with the Cougars for the third position in the conference standings. The top four teams in the conference advance to the regional tournament.
The two teams will face off in another doubleheader today beginning at noon.
Otero held off WNCC by a score of 3-2 in game one on Monday before Nike Arapkiles blasted a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh to give the Rattlers a 5-4 win in game two.
"They were good, intense, conference games," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "We had plenty of opportunities offensively in both games, but just didn't get enough big hits when we needed them."
In game one, Tim Kupfner proved to be the hard-luck loser on the mound for WNCC. Kupfner struck out nine and allowed just five hits in six innings of work.
The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Elvis Garcia drove in the game's first run. Otero answered with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to take a 3-1 advantage.
WNCC threatened in the seventh by loading the bases with no outs. Trace Marsden's run-scoring, sacrifice fly pulled the Cougars within 3-2, but that would be as close as WNCC would get.
Aurelio Monteagudo paced WNCC at the plate by going 2-for-3 with two singles. Alex Arias added a double for the Cougars.
"We got a great pitching performance from Kupfner in game one. He pitched a great ball game," Jones said. "We definitely had our chances throughout the game, especially in the seventh."
In game two, WNCC managed to hold leads on two different occasions, including 2-0 in the first inning. Otero answered with three runs in the bottom of the first before Monteagudo blasted a two-run home run in the top of the third to put the Cougars back in front 4-3. It was Monteagudo's team-leading ninth homer of the season.
Otero managed to scratch across a single run in the bottom of the third to knot the score up. Arapkiles' home run in the bottom of the seventh put an abrupt end to the contest. Arapkiles, Otero's cleanup hitter, went 4-for-8 at the plate in the doubleheader.
Jared Baros went 3-for-3 to pace WNCC offensively in game two. Garcia and Jason Sloan both went 2-for-4. Garcia and Arias both tallied a triple, while Arias drove in a pair of runs.
Sam Diaz was saddled with the loss on the mound out of the bullpen. He allowed one run on just two hits, while striking out three. Ben Doran started the game for WNCC. David Castle also saw action on the mound.
Jones said Rodil Martinez and Victor Rubio will start on the mound in today's games for WNCC.
Game One
WNCC 100 000 1 - 2 6 2
Otero 000 120 x - 3 5 0
WP - Caleb Monteil; LP - Tim Kupfner (3-2).
2B - Alex Arias.
Game Two
WNCC (17-19) 202 000 0 - 4 9 1
Otero (16-19) 301 000 1 - 5 10 1
LP - Sam Diaz (1-2).
HR - Aurelio Monteagudo. 3B - Elvis Garcia, Arias.
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