WNCC softball sweeps Wyoming

LARAMIE, Wyo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team pounded out 25 hits and 25 runs in sweeping past the University of Wyoming 14-0 and 11-4 Sunday afternoon in Laramie, Wyo.

The wins pushes the Cougars win streak to eight games, and in that stretch the Cougars have outscored their opponents 91-13.

Sunday against Wyoming, the Cougar bats were just as explosive. In the opener, the Cougars had six extra base hits, while finishing with seven extra base hits in the second game.

“In game one, I thought we played very well all the way around,” WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. “Game two I thought we came out a bit flat and didn’t make adjustments at the plate as well as we should have early.”

Winn-Ratliff said that she is glad the team is starting to find their stride on the offensive end.

“It is nice to see the young ladies go up to the plate with confidence,” she said. “We are starting to attack our pitches and take better control of our at bats. We just have to keep stringing hits together.”

The Cougars quickly took control in game one, scoring two runs in the first and second innings. Megan Burditt started things by drawing a walk before scoring on an Adena Hagen double. Hagen then scored on a Jordan Schoepflin single.

After the Cougars pushed the lead to 4-0 after three innings, WNCC opened up the game with four runs in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Katie Groves ripped a 3-RBI triple to right field. Groves later scored on a Schoepflin double.

WNCC continued pounding the ball in the fifth, where they scored six times on seven hits. Brittany Chacon started the inning with a single and then scored on a Stephanie Townsend triple. With two outs, the Cougars ripped off three straight singles, before Ashton Hughes had a towering shot the landed Hughes on third base after scoring two runs for the 14-0 lead.

Several Cougars finished with multiple hits. Schoepflin led the way with a 3-for-4 game with a run scored, RBI and a double. Hagen finished 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs, three runs scored, and two walks; while Groves went 2-for-4 with five RBIs, two runs scored and a triple. Burditt went just 1-for-2, but scored three runs from her leadoff spot.

Taylor Anderson picked up the win by going three innings and allowing just one hit and striking out six. Schoepflin finished off the game by throwing the final two innings and striking out two.

The Cougars continued swinging a mean bat in the second game, finishing with 12 hits. WNCC scored single runs in the first and second innings to take a 2-0 lead. The big blow was a run-scoring triple by Schoepflin.

WNCC added two more runs in the third inning as Hagen led off with a triple and then Groves had an inside the park home run to push the lead to 4-0. Wyoming fought back to cut the lead to 4-3 after four innings.

The Cougars bounced right back to score three times in the fifth and four in the sixth innings. Groves started the hit parade in the fifth with a single and then Schoepflin had a 2-bagger on a hit the outfielder misplayed to score Groves.

In the sixth, Allie Alverson started things with a one-out triple to right-centerfield, and later scored on a Burditt single. Hagen then reached base on a double before Groves scored both runners with a deep triple that hit the top of the outfielder's glove. Groves then scored on a Schoepflin single.

Hagen, Groves, and Schoepflin each had three hits for the Cougars. Hagen had a single, double, triple and three runs scored; while Groves had two triples, four RBIs and three runs scored. Schoepflin had a double, triple and three RBIs.

Alverson also had multiple hits, finishing the game going 2-for-4 with a triple and runs scored.

Stephanie Townsend picked up the win in the circle by going three innings and not allowing a run on just one hit. The sophomore from Roosevelt, Utah, struck out four.

Brittany Enterline threw three innings, giving up three hits, walking one and striking out two. Schoepflin finished off the game by tossing the seventh,

WNCC, 28-16 overall and 11-3 in conference, will next be in action Wednesday as the face McCook Community College on the road in conference games. The Cougars will then have their final home games on the season on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, the Cougars will take on Otero Junior College beginning at 2 p.m. as it is dorm parent recognition. WNCC will then host Trinidad State Junior College on Sunday at 11 a.m. in sophomore recognition.

“Well, you always want to play well, but especially in front of your fans at home,” Winn-Ratliff said. “We will need to continue scoring runs and giving our pitchers the support they need in the circle. This weekend’s games are very important for the Region IX tournament standings.”

Game One
WNCC 220 46 -- 14 13 0
Wyoming 000 00 -- 0 1 0
WP -- Taylor Anderson; 2B -- Adena Hagen, Jordan Schoepflin; 3B -- Katie Groves, Stephanie Townsend.

Game Two
WNCC (28-16) 112 034 0 -- 11 12 1
Wyoming 000 310 0 -- 4 4 2
WP -- Stephanie Townsend; 2B -- Hagen, Schoepflin; 3B -- Hagen, Schoepflin, Allie Alverson; HR -- Groves.