WNCC softball team pounds five home runs to sweep Luna

LAS VEGAS, N.M. -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team continued swinging a mean bat Saturday against Luna Community College in Las Vegas, N.M., to the tune of 28 runs, 25 hits and five home runs.

The 20th-ranked Cougars had four runs, including a grand slam from Allie Alverson, in game two where they won 18-8. WNCC won the first game 10-2 as Katie Groves had a home run.

In the four-game series against Luna, the Cougars had 59 runs 52 hits and 12 home runs. Groves and Megan Bourdon each had three home runs in the four games against Luna.

In the first game, the Cougars dominated from start to finish, both offensively and defensively. After a 2-2 first inning, the Cougars went to work, scoring twice in the third and then ending the game with five runs in the fifth for the 10-2 win.

The Cougars pounded out 10 hits led by Ashton Hughes with a 2-for-2 performance. Groves, Bourdon and Jacqui Cappuccilli each went 2-for-3. Groves had a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs, while Bourdon had a double, a run scored and a RBI. Cappuccilli finished with a double, two runs scored, and three RBIs.

Adena Hagen went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a triple, followed by Jordan Schoepflin going 1-for-2 with two runs scored and a RBI.

Taylor Anderson picked up the win in the circle by going five innings, scattering five hits and striking out two.

The second game saw the Cougars pound out 15 hits, including four home runs and two doubles.

The home run parade started right away as Bourdon started the game with a leadoff home run. Groves followed Bourdon's shot with a 2-run home run also in the first to take a 3-0 lead. Luna, however, came back to take a 6-3 lead after two innings.

WNCC turned the momentum its way in the third with eight runs, including two home runs. The first blast was a 3-run shot from Cappuccilli that scored Hagen and Groves. A few batters later, Allie Alverson unloaded the fully-loaded bases with a grand slam to put WNCC up 11-8. WNCC added seven more runs in the fifth and sixth inning for the win.

Cappuccilli paced the team by going 4-for-5 with three runs scored, four RBIs, and a home run. Also collecting multiple hits were Hagen going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a double, Groves going 2-for-2 with a home run, four runs scored and three RBIs, Schoepflin going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a RBI, and a double; and Hughes who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.

Alverson finished the contest going 1-5 with a home run and four RBIs, while Bourdon went 1-for-1 wiht a home run.

Stephanie Townsend started the game going just 2 1/3 innings while striking out two, walking six and allowing five hits. Anderson picked up the win, finishing off the game by tossing the final 3 2/3 innings and striking out two.

WNCC, 38-16, will finish off the regular season Monday evening as they travel to Black Hills State College to face the Hornets in a doubleheader. They will then host the Region IX tournament starting Friday at Volunteer Field.

First round action Friday in the regional tournament has Dawson facing Trinidad State at 1 p.m., Lamar Community College meeting McCook Community College at 3 p.m., Dawson/Trinidad winner facing Otero at 5 p.m., and the Lamar/McCook winner facing Western Nebraska at 7 p.m. The tournament is double elimination will continue Saturday and Sunday.

Game One
WNCC 202 15 -- 10 10 0
Luna 200 00 -- 2 5 0
WP -- Taylor Anderson; 2B -- MeganBourdon, Jacqui Cappuccilli; 3B -- Adena Hagen; HR -- Katie Groves.

Game Two
WNCC (38-16) 308 043 -- 18 15 3
Luna 242 000 -- 8 5 3
WP -- Anderson; 2B -- Hagen, Jordan Schoepflin; HR -- Groves, Cappuccilli, Bourdon, Allie Alverson.