WNCC softball goes 2-3 at Triple Crown Tournament

FT. COLLINS, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College went 2-3 at the Triple Crown Invitational over the weekend in Ft. Collins, Colo. The Cougars played all four-year colleges.

The Cougars opened the tourney on Saturday by falling 8-7 to Black Hills State and then to 15-7 to Regis University. WNCC then picked up a 10-1 win over McPherson College. On Sunday, the Cougars topped the University of Great Falls 14-3 before falling to Metro State 7-5.

WNCC sophomore Amanda Saldivar said this was a good weekend to see where the team stands.

“I think we did pretty well this weekend considering we played a bunch of four-year schools,” Saldivar said. “We, as a team, just have to make more adjustments and we’ll be OK. “

Despite falling three times, Saldivar said there were plenty of positives from the games.

“We did a lot better at the plate and a lot better communicating with each other.”

The Cougars will take what they learned from this weekend’s contest as they face Chadron State College in a scrimmage Tuesday at Volunteer Field, which is scheduled for 3 p.m.

Against Black Hills State, WNCC held a 7-3 lead before allowing BHSC score five runs in the sixth inning to sting the Cougars 8-7. Freshman Chelsi Townsend had the big bat for the Cougars, going 2-for-4 with two home runs, six RBIs and two runs scored. Townsend had a 2-run shot in the first inning and then had a grand slam in the second inning.

Bree Bitton also collected two hits in the contest with a double and a single. Aria Agle also slapped a double in the loss.

Agle took the loss in the circle, giving up eight runs on 17 hits and striking out just two.

In the Regis contest, Ashton Hughes took the loss giving up eight runs in three innings of work.

Offensively, the Cougars pounded out seven hits. Jocelyn Stubbs went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two RBIs and a double, while Sarah Hawryluk went 2-for-3 with two singles. Saldivar also collected multiple hits, going 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Freshman Amanda Jones pitched the Cougars to their first victory in the tournament with a dominating performance against McPherson. The Henderson, Nev., flame-thrower scattered six hits and struck out three.

WNCC pounded out 13 hits in the contest led by Megan Bourdon’s 3-for-3 performance, including three runs scored, a double and a triple. Hughes, Jacqui Cappuccilli and Allie Alverson also picked two hits each. Hughes was 2-for-2 with a double, while Cappuccilli was 2-for-3 with a double, and Alverson was 2-for-3 with a double. Townsend also pitched in a double and a run scored.

WNCC continued its winning ways against Great Falls with a 20-hit attack. The Cougars had seven players finish with two or more hits. Hughes paced the team with a 3-for-4 game, including two runs scored.

Also for the Cougars, Bourdon went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs; Jordan Schoepflin went 2-for-2 with a double; Rae-lee Tresierra went 2-for-3; Hawryluk went 2-for-3; and Bitton went 2-for-3 with two singles and two runs scored.

Sarah Ward-Hadden picked up the pitching win, throwing four innings and scattering six hits and striking out one.

The Cougars finished the tourney with a 7-5 loss to Metro, in which they led 3-2 after two innings before a grand slam my Metro in the third inning put the Roadrunners up for good.

Hughes picked up the loss, going 2 2/3 innings and giving up seven runs on five hits. Jones finished off the game by allowing one hit over 2 1/3 innings.

WNCC pounded out six hits in the contest. Saldivar paced the team with a 2-for-2 contest, including two runs scored. Townsend also went 1-for-1 with a double and two RBIs.

After Tuesday’s contest with Chadron State College, WNCC will have three more fall contests, including a Oct. 8 home contest with North Platte Community College. WNCC will also hit the road Oct. 7 at the University of Wyoming and Oct. 9 at Greeley, Colo., to face UNC and Colorado State.