WNCC baseball splits with Lamar, still in second place in conference race

LAMAR, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team’s seventh inning magic fell short Monday in the final two games of a four-game series with Lamar Community College that was played Sunday and Monday in Lamar, Colo.

In Monday’s opener, the Cougars scored four times in the seventh inning to register a come-from-behind 4-3 win. In the second game of a doubleheader, WNCC trailed 7-2 entering the final frame and came up one run short, falling 7-6.

The Cougars also split a pair of games on Sunday, falling 7-0 in game one before rallying with a fourth inning, four run output to register a 5-3 win.

WNCC is still in second place in the Empire Conference standings after the split, just two games ahead of Lamar Community College for that second spot. The top two teams will host first-round playoff games starting May 1.

The Cougars are 14-10 in conference standings, while Lamar is 13-12. Trinidad State leads the conference with a 20-5 mark. Northeastern Colorado is fourth at 9-14 after taking two from Otero on Monday. Otero and McCook are in fifth and sixth place with 13-15 and 8-21 marks. Only the top four squads make the regional playoffs.

WNCC coach Mike Jones said they played well, especially making comebacks. They just fell short, he said.

“We played alright. We rallied in both games,” he said. “Their pitcher did a good job of holding us down early. We came up with some clutch at bats in both games. In the first game, especially, we had some quality at bats and came out with the win.”

Monday’s first game definitely had a lot of drama. Lamar was shutting out the Cougars through six innings, holding a 3-0 lead. In the seventh inning, Scottsbluff’s Trace Marsden started things with a double, his second 2-bagger of the game. Vince Rouse followed with a single and then Josh Parker was walked to load the bases with no outs.

Jason Sloan then delivered a single to score Marsden to keep the bases loaded. Aurelio Monteagudo walked to force in the second run. Elvis Garcia then hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed two runs score on an error.

That was all WNCC needed as Cougar freshman Rodil Martinez shut down the Lopes’ bats in the seventh for the win. Martinez threw seven innings, allowing six hits and striking out two.

Three Cougars finished the game with two hits. Marsden and Alex Arias each went 2-for-4, while Sloan went 2-for-3. Marsden had two doubles in the contest.

The second game had drama as well. Unfortunately for WNCC, its seventh-inning comeback fell short.

WNCC was trailing 7-1 entering the sixth inning. That is when WNCC started their comeback. First, Monteagudo had a solo home run to cut the deficit to 7-2 after six innings.

The Cougars didn’t quit as they scored four times in the seventh. Lamar was its worst enemy in that inning as they loaded the bases. The Lopes, however, turned a double play allowing one run to score.

Sloan followed by reaching on an error that allowed another run to score for a 7-4 deficit. Monteagudo followed with a run-scoring double and then Garcia had a run-scoring single, but that was as close as they could get.

Victor Rubio picked up the loss on the mound, going five innings and striking out six.

Sunday’s games had just as much drama. After the Cougars dropped the first game 7-0, WNCC rebounded with a 4-run fourth inning to register a 5-3 win.

In the win, WNCC and Lamar were scoreless through three innings. Then Garcia changed the complexion of the game with a 3-run home run that scored slain and Monteagudo to give WNCC a 4-0 lead. The Cougars added a single run in the fifth.

Lamar fought back, scoring three times in the sixth, but it wasn’t enough.

Sam Diaz picked up the win for WNCC. Sloan paced the team with a 3-for-4 performance, including a double.

WNCC will be back in action Wednesday when they travel to Sterling, Colo., for one 9-inning contest. WNCC will then finish out the Empire Conference race with a 9-inning game Friday against McCook Community College beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a four-game series Saturday and Sunday against Trinidad State Junior College.

Sunday’s Games
WNCC 000 000 0 – 0
Lamar xxx xxx x – 7
LP – Kupfner.

WNCC 000 410 0 – 5 6 0
Lamar 000 003 0 – 3 4 3
WP – Diaz; 2B – WNCC (Sloan); HR – WNCC (Garcia).

Monday’s Games
WNCC 000 000 4 – 4 7 1
Lamar 200 010 0 – 3 6 1
WP – Martinez; 2B – WNCC (Marsden 2).

WNCC (23-23) 100 001 4 – 6 5 3
Lamar (23-20) 012 130 0 – 7 9 1
LP – Rubio; 2B – WNCC (Monteagudo); HR – WNCC (Monteagudo).