STERLING, Colo. -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team smashed three home runs in earning a sweep over Northeastern Junior College Wednesday in Sterling, Colo.
Kasey Cash, Danielle Hearn and Bianca Duran each smashed home runs in the opening game as Duran tossed a 2-hit shutout in the 11-0 win. The second contest saw the Cougars scratch across two runs in earning a hard-fought 2-1 win.
The wins push the Cougars record to 26-19.
In the opener, WNCC was in complete control as Duran had a perfect game going through the first three innings. NJC recorded its two hits of the contest in the fourth, but nothing amounted to anything.
WNCC, on the other hand, pounded out 14 hits in the opening game. The Cougars went ahead 5-0 in the second inning as Jocelyn Stubbs singles and Mariah Shepherd doubled. Cash followed with a towering 3-run home run for the quick lead. The Cougars weren't finished, plating two more in the inning as Aria Agle and Sarah Hawryluk each singled and scored on a Duran single.
The lead stayed that way until the fifth inning when the Cougars plated four runs on four hits. Bree Bitton started things with a single followed by a Hawryluk single. Both came home on a Hearn 3-run bomb for an 8-0 lead. Duran quickly made it 9-0 with a solo shot.
WNCC finished off the run explosion with two runs in the fifth as Hawryluk and Hearn singled. Hawryluk scored on a passed ball, while Hearn scored on a single by Duran.
Duran was sizzling in the circle by allowing just two hits while striking out three. Duran threw just 48 pitches, including tosses just five pitches in the third and fifth innings.
Offensively, the Cougars finished with 14 hits with five players getting multiple hits. Duran paced the team with a 3-for-4 game with four RBIs and a home run. Hearn went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. Hawryluk, Hearn and Mariah Shepherd each went 2-for-3. Hawryluk had three runs scored and two stolen bases, while Hearn had two runs scored, three RBIs and home run.
The second contest saw WNCC get out hit 7-6, but the Cougars found a way to win with two strong pitching performances from starter Amanda Jones and Duran. Jones went six innings in allowing six hits, one walk and four strikeouts. NJC's only run of the day came in the fifth with a one-out, first-pitch home run.
Duran came in and picked up the save by allowing just one hit and striking out one.
WNCC's run production was manufactured with some timely hits. Mariah Shepherd got the first hit of the game with a single in the second. Two batters later, Aria Agle uncorked a two-out double to score Shepherd.
NJC tied the game with Darla Rosenbrock's solo shot to tie the game. It was short lived as WNCC went ahead 2-1 with a run in the second. Hawryluk led off with a slap single. Hwryluk then stole second and third before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Hearn.
Hawryluk and Shepherd led the team with two hits each. Hawryluk also had three stolen bases in the game, while Shepherd had one.
NJC was led at the plate by Gering graduate Maddie Spencer with a 2-for-3 game. Also collecting two hits for the Plainswomen was Kacey Sears
WNCC, 26-19, will be back in action Friday and Saturday at the CCC-Columbus tournament before returning home for a doubleheader on Tuesday against McCook Community College, where the team will present a check to the Team Ashtyn Foundation between contests.
Game One
WNCC 050 42 -- 11 14 0
NJC 000 00 -- 0 2 0
WP -- Bianca Duran; 2B -- Mariah Shepherd; HR -- Kasey Cash, Danielle Hearn, Duran.
Game Two
WNCC 010 001 0 -- 2 6 1
NJC 000 010 0 -- 1 7 0
WP -- Amanda Jones, S -- Duran; 2B -- Aria Agle.
No comments:
Post a Comment