WNCC softball team turns triple play, drops Hastings College J.V.

HASTINGS – The No. 18 Western Nebraska Community College softball team played stellar defense, including turning a triple play, in posting a doubleheader sweep over Hastings College junior varsity Wednesday afternoon at Hastings.

Casey Simpson picked up the in game one, striking out seven in powering the Cougars to an 8-0 win. The second game was highlighted by a first-inning triple play as the Cougars pounded out 15 hits in taking a 13-4 win. The wins push the Cougars’ record to 36-16 on the season.

WNCC controlled game one from the get-go, scoring eight runs on 11 hits. Seven different players recorded at least one hit. WNCC raced to a 3-0 lead after three innings and then scored four times in the sixth inning to end the game via the 8-run rule.

Alyssa Hickey went 2-for-2 with two singles and a run scored, while Megan Burditt went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and Stephanie Townsend went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

The second game was highlighted by a first-inning triple play. WNCC was up 4-1 and Hastings had the bases loaded with no outs. The Hastings batter into an infield fly and then the Cougars caught two Hastings’ batters off the base to get out of the jam.

Hastings sliced the lead to 4-3 after two inning, only to see WNCC rack up nine runs in the third, fourth and fifth inning to end the game by the 8-run rule. WNCC scored six times in the fifth inning.

WNCC had five players with two or more hits in the contest. Sophomore Alec Voci led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, including three RBIs and a double.

Adena Hagen went 2-for-2 with a RBI and two singles; Kelly Pearson went 2-for-4 with a run scored and RBI; Katie Groves went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and two singles; and Burditt went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two singles. Tonya Atencio went 1-for-2 with two runs scored as well.

Townsend started in the second and went 1 1/3 inning giving up three runs and four hits. Simpson came in relief to get the win, allowing just two hits and striking out five in 3 2/3 innings of work.

WNCC will next be in action Thursday when they face Central Community College-Columbus at 5 and 7 p.m. WNCC will then face Southeast Community College in Beatrice on Friday, before finishing the regular season Saturday at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

First Game
WNCC 012 014 – 8 11
Hastings 000 000 – 0 4
WP – Simpson.

Second Game
WNCC (34-16) 402 16 – 13 15
Hastings 120 10 – 4 6
WP – Simpson, 2B – WNCC (Voci).