WNCC splits with Lamar on Sunday, still in second place in conference race

Western Nebraska Community College Tim Beard struck out nine in tossing a shut out against Empire Conference leading Lamar Community College Sunday afternoon at Cleveland Field in Scottsbluff.

Beard's sparkling pitching, along with an offensive attack that saw the Cougars score in five of the six innings that they batted in, helped WNCC win the opener 9-0 in a crucial conference game. THe second game, saw the Cougars fall 5-3 in an extra-inning affair.

With the split, the Cougars are still one game up on Trinidad State for the second playoff spot. Trinidad State split with McCook on Sunday, winning the first 6-4 and falling 2-1.

In the opener, the storyline was Beard's pitching. The flamethrower from Canbarra, Australia, went all seven innings, scattering three hits and allowing just two free passes on base.

WNCC used Beard's pitching to their advantage on offense as they quickly took a 3-0 lead in the first. Shane Wade started things by reaching base after being plunked by a pitch. Later, Elvis Garcia singled to left field. Both runners came around to score as Camilo Baldelomar tripled to right field. He later scored on a passed ball for the 1-0 lead.

WNCC added single runs in the second and third inning for a 5-0 lead. In the second, Nelson Quintero doubled and scored on a Jared Baros single down the left field line. The third inning saw Garcia score from third on a Kevin Sanford sacrifice fly to right field.

WNCC added three more runs in the fourth as Baros led off with a single. Wade and Jason Sloan reached base to load the bases with no outs. All three came in to score for an 8-0 lead.

The Cougars finished the first game with eight hits. Baldelomar led the way with a 3-for-3 game with four RBIs and a run scored. No other Cougar had more than one hit in the game.

The second game was anyone's game. Lamar took a 1-0 lead as Eric Dorton scored on a Tanner Waite single.

WNCC quickly answered in the bottom of the first. Wade drew a lead-off of walk. After a sacrifice bunt, Garcia earned a walk. Then, with two outs, Josh Parker had a single to score both runners for a 2-1 lead.

Lamar retook the lead in the top of the third as WNCC pitcher Armani Gonzalez loaded the bases with three free-passes. Waite then had a single to score to runs for the 3-2 lead.

The Lopes' lead was shortlived as WNCC responded in the bottom of the frame. SLoan worked himself on board with a walk. Then, with two outs, Baldelomar singled followed by a run-scoring single by Parker to tie the game at 3-3.

Neither team scored until the eighth inning when Lamar plated two runs on three hits. WNCC couldn't muster anything against Lamar's closer Brandon Ward-Hersee, who struck out five of the final six outs for the win.

WNCC managed just five hits in the contest. Parker led the way with three hits, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

WNCC, 21-30, will face Lamar in another conference doubleheader Monday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. at Cleveland Field.

The Cougars need to keep winning to secure the No. 2 seed at regionals. WNCC had a 15-11 conference record, just a game ahead of Trinidad State at 13-12. McCook is fourth at 13-14, while Otero is 10-17 and Northeastern Colorado is 7-20. Only the top four teams make the Region IX playoffs that being May 7 at the sites of the top two teams.

Game One
Lamar 000 000 0 -- 0 3 1
WNCC 311 301 x -- 9 8 0
WP -- Tim Beard, LP -- Michael Oberto; 2B -- Nelson Quintero; 3B -- Camilo Baldelomar.

Game Two
Lamar (39-10) 102 000 02 -- 5 13 1
WNCC (21-30) 201 000 00 -- 3 5 0
WP -- Brandon Ward-Hersee, LP -- Jacob Stutzman.