The Cougars had a hard-luck loss to Colby in the first game, falling 7-6. They responded with a 12-6 win in game two, scoring 11 runs in the first two innings.
“I was extremely disappointed in the split,” Jones said. “In the first game we didn’t pitch very well the first two innings of the game. We had an opportunity to control the game early. We went to the bull pen and had it under control, but we just couldn’t get the runs late.
“[Giving up early runs] has been the story of our season. We came out the second game and dominated the game early. We had such a big game early that we were able to keep it under control. Armani [Gonzalez] was able to settle in and pitch a pretty good ball game for us. We went to the bull pen following him and those guys were outstanding.”
The second-game victory was highlighted by offensive outburst by Scottsbluff’s Dallas Liptac who drove in four runs.
“In that win Wednesday, we had an opportunity to have different guys step up and be a part of a good win for us,” Jones said. “That is great to see and it is all part of a team concept and part of developing players. We have a guy like Dallas Liptac, who has been here for two years and works extremely hard, to see him have a nice game.”
Liptac finished game two with a 2-for-3 performance, including four RBIs. Jared Baros also went 2-for-3 with a run batted in, while Elvis Garcia added a two-run double in the second game win.
Armani Gonzalez worked 4 2/3 innings on the mound to register his second victory of the season. Gonzalez scattered eight hits and struck out one.
WNCC opened the contest by plating five first-inning runs. Colby, however, came right back and scored three times to cut the lead to 5-3. The Cougars opened the contest in the second inning, plating six runners for an 11-3 lead.
In the opener, the Cougars’ lost a hard-fought contest 7-6, allowing Colby to score seven times in the first two innings to trail 7-5. Gustavo Sanchez took the loss, working just 1 2/3, while allowing seven runs on six hits. David Castle, a Guensey, Wyo., product, came in relief and shut down the Trojans’ bats. Castle struck out three and allowed no runs with his stint on the mound.
Brady Sanchez, who played for the Buckley Bombers Legion baseball team out of Chappell, also stepped up in the first game, going 2-for-3 and driving in a run. Alex Arias also chipped in a double for the Cougars.
“Brady has a good ball game for as well and Shane Wade had a good ball game for us on the day,” Jones said. “It was great that we got different out there and they produced so well. That shows the strength and depth of our team.”
WNCC (17-17) will now head into a stretch of eight-straight conference games. WNCC will travel to Otero Junior College on Sunday and Monday, followed by a road doubleheader at Northeastern Junior College and then a home contest April 11 against NJC.
Jones said those conference games are becoming very important. WNCC sits third in the conference standings with an 8-4 mark behind Trinidad State (10-1) and Lamar Community College (7-4). The top four teams advance into the Region IX Playoffs.
“These conference games are really starting to build up and the importance of them continues to grow,” Jones said. “Trinidad continues to keep pressure on everybody. They are sitting at 10-1 and they are not making any mistakes and they are not slipping up. These conference games are important.
“Otero is a team that we were able to beat here and now we have to go to their place. Anytime you have to go on the road in this conference, things get tough. It will be a battle and a grind, and we will see what happens.”
Game One
WNCC 140 001 0 — 6 4 0
Colby 340 000 x — 7 9 1
LP — Gustavo Sanchez; 2B — Alex Arias.
Game Two
WNCC (17-17) 560 000 1 — 12 8 2
Colby 302 000 1 — 6 10 2
WP — Armani Gonzalez; 2B — Elvis Garcia.
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