WNCC softball hits five home runs, sweeps CCC-Columbus on the road

COLUMBUS – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team had five home runs, three of which came from the pitchers, as they swept a doubleheader from Central Community College-Columbus Thursday at Columbus.

WNCC trailed early in game one and then scored six times in the sixth inning to register a 9-3 win. The Cougars scored eight times in the nightcap to register a 14-1 win to push the Cougars to 38-16 on the season. WNCC will continue its eastern Nebraska road swing with contests against Southeast Community College in Beatrice Friday at 3 and 5 p.m.

“I thought in game one we came out a little flat and they [central] did a nice job of putting the ball in play,” WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “Then Alyssa Hickey hit the home run and tied the came up and we came back with six runs in the sixth inning to get the win.

“We continued that momentum in the game two where we played really well. We played much better. They strung a few hits together, but that was it. Also, all three of our pitchers [Casey Simpson, Stephanie Townsend and Kelsey Garner] had home runs today.”

WNCC trailed early in game one 3-2 after one inning. Hickey then had a solo home run in the third inning to tie the game.

The Cougars opened the contest up in the sixth inning as Simpson and Garner led off with back-to-back home runs. Tonya Atencio and Lauryn Smith followed by reaching base on a single and a walk. Katie Groves hit both in with a triple to make the score 7-3.

Garner picked up the win, allowing three runs, 10 hits and striking out 10.

Megan Burditt went 3-for-5 with three singles and two runs scored, while Groves went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs, a triple and two walks. Hickey went 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a home run.

WNCC made quick work in game two, scoring eight times in the first inning. Groves went 3-for-4 in the game, including having two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored in the first inning along. She also hit her 14^th home run of the season, a 2-run shot in the first inning.

Townsend went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBIs, a double and a home run. Townsend’s home run was a 2-run shot in the third inning.’

Also for the Cougars, Kelly Pearson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and three singles, Hickey went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBIs and three singles; and Smith went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two singles.

Townsend picked up the win, going three innings, scattering three hits and striking out one. Simpson started, going two innings in allowing a run, two hits and striking out one.

Game One
WNCC 201 006 0 – 9 10
CCC-Columbus 300 000 0 – 3 10
WP – Garner; 3B – WNCC (Groves); HR – WNCC (Simpson, Garner, Hickey).

Game Two
WNCC (38-16) 812 12 – 14 16
CCC-Columbus 010 00 – 1 5
WP – Townsend; 2B – WNCC (Townsend); HR – WNCC (Groves, Townsend).