Sunday, March 28, 2010

WNCC softball drops McCook 7-0, 13-0

Taylor Anderson and Brittany Enterline tossed shutouts and the Western Nebraska Community College softball team opened up the offense in the second game to record 7-0 and 13-0 conference wins against McCook Community College Sunday afternoon at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff.

Anderson threw four innings in game one scattering three hits and not allowing a runner past second base in the game one win. Anderson, the senior from Riverton, Utah, struck out two and walked none. Stephanie Townsend threw the final three innings, allowing one hit, walking three and striking out two.

Enterline was just as impressive in game two, throwing four innings and allowint just two hits, while striking out three. Anderson pitched the fifth inning to finish out the game.

Adena Hagen, sohomore outfielder from Birch Hills, Saskatchewan, Canada, said what the pitchers did against McCook was a big momentum shift for the offense.

" it is a big deal for them I think," she said. "That means they are hitting their spots well and throwing the ball well. Defensively, we were doing our jobs.

Offensively, the Cougars were impressive, especially in the second game where they scored 13 runs on 16 hits. The big inning for the Cougars in the second inning was the third where they plated nine runs on 10 hits. Hagen got things started with a single and then Katie Groves hit her eighth home run of the season to put WNCC up 2-0.

Jordan Schoepflin, Stephanie Townsend and Brittany Chacon all followed with singles and then Tonya Atencio unleashed a double. The hit parade continued after that with Megan Burditt and Hagen getting singles. Groves followed with a triple to right field that scored two more runs for an 8-0 lead. Groves scored moments later on a Schoepflin single.

WNCC put the game away in the fourt. The big hit was a 2-run scoring triple by Megan Burditt to put the Cougars up 11-0. Hagen followed with a double and scored on a Groves hit that was fumbled by the outfielder for the final run.

Groves went 3-for-4 in the game with five RBIs and two runs scored. The sophomore from Bluffdale, Utah, was a double shy of hitting for the cycle. Hagen also had a 3-for-4 game, with three runs scored, two RBIs and a double.

Schoepflin also went 3-for-4 with a run scored, RBI and three singles. Atencio finished the game going 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Also getting multiple hits was Burditt with a single, triple, two runs scored and three RBIs.

The first game the offense wasn't quite as explosive as the second, but they didn't need the offense with the way the defense was playing.

The Cougars vaulted to a 3-0 lead after one inning as Hagen single followed by a Groves walk and then Schoepflin slapped a single. All three scored for the early lead.

WNCC added four more runs in the fourth inning. Hagen started things with a walk and scored on a Schoepflin triple to right centerfield. Megan Bourdon followed with a run-scoring single. Jacqui Cappuccilli followed with a single. Both came around to score on a Anderson double for the 7-0 lead.

McCook had a prime chance to score in the fifth inning as Emily Schweikart, Alliance's Brittany Coward and Natasha Coons walked to load the bases. But, with two outs, WNCC's Megan Burditt made a diving catch by the leftfield fence to thwart any runs to score and preserve the shutout.

The Cougars managed eight hits in game one. Hagen went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a double, while Schoepflin went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a triple. Anderson also had two hits along with a double and two RBIs.

Hagen said that they definitely played better in the second game.

"the first game we could have come out more stronger offensively," she said. "Coach wanted more than seven runs on the board. But we came out the second game swinging a lot better. We strung it together a lot better and put more runs on the board a lot quicker."

WNCC, 17-12, will next be in action Thursday when they face Central Community College-Columbus in Columbus before competing in the CCC-Columbus tournament on Friday and Saturday. Hagen said the key to playing well is staying focused mentally.

"i think mentally we have to be prepared more," she said. "We are all capable of doing things; we just have to mentally be there and confidence that we know we can do it and have confidence at the plate."

First Game

McCook 000 000 0 -- 0 4 0

WNCC 304 000 x -- 7 8 0

WP -- Taylor Anderson, LP -- Emily Schweikert; 2B -- Anderson, Adena Hagen; 3B -- Jordan Schoepflin.

Second Game

McCook (1-17) 000 00 -- 0 4 1

WNCC (17-12) 009 4x -- 13 16 1

WP -- Brittany Enterline, LP -- Jennifer Zulkanycz; 2B -- Hagen, Tonya Atencio; 3B -- Katie Groves, Megan Burditt; HR -- Groves.


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