COLUMBUS -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team split a pair of contests against NJCAA Division II ranked teams at the CCC-Columbus tournament in Columbus on Friday.
The Cougars, who earned honorable mention votes in this week's rankings, opened the tournament by falling to No. 8 Iowa Central Community College 5-4 despite three home runs. WNCC then came back and drilled No. 4 Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College 7-1 behind a four-hit, 6-struck out performance from right-handed flamethrower Bianca Duran.
WNCC exploded out of the gates against Kirkwood, grabbing a 5-0 lead after three innings. The Cougars scored twice in the second off of a run-scoring double by Aria Agle and a run-scoring single by Gabi Palacios.
The Cougars added to the lead in the third as Jocelyn Stubbs fouled off three balls before launching a 3-run home run to centerfield. After Kirkwood scored one in the sixth, WNCC plated two more in the seventh. Palacios started the inning with a double and later scored on an error. Danielle Hearn then singled in Sarah Hawryluk for the 7-1 lead.
WNCC pounded out nine hits in the win, including four extra base hits. Hearn paced the offensive attack with a 3-for-4 game with a double and run scored followed by Palacios with a 2-for-3 game with a double, run scored and RBI. Stubbs also finished with three RBIs and a home run, while Hawryluk had a single, run scored and two stolen bases, her 50th and 51st of the season, expanding on her season record. Hawryluk is just four stolen bases from notching her 100th career stolen base.
Duran, of Westminster, Colo., was the workhorse in the circle with a dominating performance, while throwing 116 pitches. Duran allowed four hits, one run and walking two. Duran also struck out six.
In the opener, It was the second time this season they faced Iowa Central. The first time, at the Butler Tournament, Iowa Central had a perfect game against the Cougars in a 5-0 win. This time, the Cougars battled tooth and nail against the No. 8 team in the nation.
WNCC managed just five in the contest, three of which came off of home runs. The Cougars offensive punch started in the second inning as Mariah Shepherd walked and scored on a Agle 2-run home run to rightfield. It was Agle's third dinger of the year.
Iowa Central answered with single runs in the bottom of the second and third inning to tie the game. The Cougars came back to go up 3-2 in the fourth as Kasey Cash led off with a solo home run, her sixth of the season.
Iowa Central tied the game in the bottom of the frame on a solo home run. The Cougars went back in front in the fifth as Duran pounded her 14th home run of the season to go up 4-3. Iowa Central scored two in the bottom of the fifth for the 5-4 lead.
Agle went 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, while Duran and Cash each had one hit with their solo home runs.
Jones went six innings in scattering seven hits and allowing five runs. Jones only walked one and struck out one, but served up two home runs.
The Cougars will be back in action Saturday with three more games in the tournament when they face Indian Hills at 8 a.m., Muscatine Community College at 10 a.m. and Iowa Western Community College at 1 p.m.
Game One
WNCC 020 110 0 -- 4 5 2
ICCC 011 120 x -- 5 7 1
LP -- Amanda Jones; HR -- Bianca Duran, Kasey Cash, Aria Agle.
Game Two
WNCC (28-19) 023 000 2 -- 7 9 7
Kirkwood 000 100 0 -- 1 4 9
WP -- BIanca Duran; 2B -- Danielle Hearn, Agle, Gabi Palacios; HR -- Jocelyn Stubbs.
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