Cougar baseball drops two on Friday

Submitted by Jeremy Woznick, Star-Herald Sports Reporter

PUEBLO, Colo. - The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team received two strong starting pitching performances in its season-opening doubleheader against Garden City Community College Friday in Pueblo, Colo., but it wasn't enough as the Cougars let leads in both games slip away.

WNCC held a 6-3 lead in game one before Garden City scored four times in the bottom of the sixth to escape with a 7-6 win. In game two, the Cougars couldn't make a 2-0 lead hold up as Garden City plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth to post a 5-3 victory.

"They were really good ball games to open up with," WNCC coach Mike Jones said. "I thought we got solid starting pitching in both games. We just got tired and panicked a little bit late in the games. We'll definitely learn from that and make adjustments."

In the opener, Armani Gonzalez pitched five solid innings to earn a no decision. Gonzalez allowed three runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked two.

Offensively, four different Cougars had multiple-hit performances. Jason Sloan, Camilo Baldelomar, Oscar Rodriguez and Jared Baros all finished with two hits each. Baldelomar had a triple with a run batted in, while Sloan, Rodriguez and Baros each had a double. Baros knocked in three runs and Sloan drove in one.

The Cougars finished with nine hits in the game.

David Castle took the loss on the hill out of the bullpen. The four runs he allowed were all unearned. Castle struck out one and allowed three hits.

In game two, Tim Beard gave the Cougars another solid start on the mound. He allowed just two runs on two hits in five innings of work. He struck out one and walked two in the no decision.

WNCC plated two runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 2-0 lead, but Garden City erupted for five runs in the bottom half of the frame. The Cougars added a lone run in the top of the seventh.

"Both Armani and Tim came out and threw very well for us. That was very encouraging," Jones said. "We really settled in early in both games, but we let both of them slip away from us."

The Cougars had just three hits in game two. Shane Wade drove in a run with a triple, while Sloan and Trace Marsden each had singles.

Carlos Palomo took the loss on the mound. He allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one in a third of an inning. JC Morales finished out the game on the mound for the Cougars. He allowed one run on one hit and struck out one.

The two teams will be right back in action today in another doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for high noon.

Rodil Martinez will start on the mound for WNCC in the first game and Julio Davila will take the ball in game two.

Game One
WNCC 020 220 0 - 6 9 2
Garden City 000 304 x - 7 7 1
LP - David Castle (0-1).
3B - Camilo Baldelomar. 2B - Jason Sloan, Oscar Rodriguez, Jared Baros.

Game Two
WNCC (0-2) 000 002 1 - 3 3 2
Garden City (3-0) 000 005 x - 5 4 1
LP - Carlos Palomo (0-1).
3B - Shane Wade.