The Cougars dropped the first game 6-5 as Otero's four-run third inning was the difference. In the second game, WNCC plated five runs in the first inning and received a clutch pitching performance from Stephanie Townsend to earn an 8-4 win.
WNCC stays on top after McCook and Trinidad State split games on Saturday with the Indians winning the first game 4-3 before the Trojans won the second game 9-0. Trinidad State and WNCC will battle in a crucial conference doubleheader today at Volunteer Field beginning at 11 a.m. Trinidad State has a 13-5 conference record, while Otero drops to 14-6.
WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said her team needs to be ready to play today against Trinidad State.
"We have to come out ready to play [Sunday]," she said. "Our biggest thing is to try to be the No. 1 seed in the tournament. We are still on pace to do that, but Trinidad will come out really hungry. It will be a dog fight. We need to come out and do what we need to do both games to come away victorious."
WNCC took a 1-0 lead early as Jordan Schoepflin singled home Megan Burditt in the first inning.
Otero came back scoring two in the second on a 2-run home run by Shannon Traxinger. The Cougars wasted little time as they tied the game in the bottom of the frame as Brittany Chacon doubled home Ashton Hughes.
The Rattlers scored four runs in the third inning to take a 6-2 lead. The big hit was a solo home run by Jordan Bailey. WNCC didn't fold as they scored three runs to slice the lead to 6-5 in the bottom of the inning. Katie Groves ripped a single to score Adena Hagen with the first run, before Schoepflin launched a 2-run home run to bring the team back to within one.
That was as close as they got. Taylor Anderson took the loss in the circle. Anderson went all seven innings, scattering 10 hits while striking out three.
WNCC finished with eight hits, led by Schoepflin with a 4-for-4 game, including three RBIs and a home run.
Winn-Ratliff said they played alright in the opener, except they just couldn't get the clutch hit.
"Game one we came out on fire. We scored a run and did the things we needed to. They came back and hit a home run and then we find a way to tie it," she said. "In the third inning it seemed we lost a little bit of focus and they put up four runs. We immediately come right back and get within one with three innings to play. It just felt like we just couldn't get over the hump. We made some base running mistakes. We missed some bunting opportunities. But, it was a fight to the very end and as a spectator that is what you want to see. Unfortunately, we were on the wrong end of the scoreboard.
"Game two Otero came out with a ton of momentum. They put a run up and then their pitcher struggled a little bit and I thought we did the things we needed to by putting up a lot of runs and stay in control of the game. Steph kept her composure and some kids came up big offensively."
After Otero scored once in the first inning, WNCC plated five runs in the bottom of the frame on just one hit, a triple by Hagen. WNCC pushed the lead to 7-1 after three innings as Hagen scored two runs on a single up the to right centerfield.
Otero added two runs in the fifth on a 2-run home run by Traxinger to cut the deficit to 7-3. WNCC came back with a single run in the sixth as Groves tripled to right field and scored on a Schoepflin single. The Rattlers final run came on a solo home run in the seventh by Mariah Griego.
Townsend picked up the win in the circle by going seven innings, scattering seven hits and striking out three.
WNCC had six hits in the contest as Hagen went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, Also collecting multiple hits was Schoepflin with a 2-for-4 game with two RBIs and a triple.
Game One
Otero 024 000 0 -- 6 10 0
WNCC 113 000 0 -- 5 8 2
LP -- Taylor Anderson; HR -- Jordan Schoepflin.
Game Two
Otero (24-18) 100 020 1 -- 4 7 1
WNCC (29-17) 502 001 x -- 8 6 1
WP -- Stephanie Townsend; 2B -- Schoepflin; 3B -- Adena Hagen, Katie Groves.
No comments:
Post a Comment