GREAT BEND, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team battled but came up short in falling in a doubleheader to Barton Community College Saturday afternoon in Great Bend, Kansas.

                In the opener, Barton scored seven, fourth-inning runs to roll to a 15-5 win over the Cougars. The second game was a lot tighter as the Cougars fell 7-5.

                WNCC, 3-9, will be back in action Sunday when Barton and the Cougars battle in another doubleheader.

                The first game saw the Cougars plate three runs in the second to take the early lead. Barton came back with three in the second, two in the third and seven in the fourth for a 12-4 lead before winning 15-5.

                WNCC had 11 hits in the contest, including three doubles.

                Jonathan Bermudez paced the team with a 3-for-3 game with two RBIs and a run scored. Oscar Perez also had two singles in the game with two runs scored. Collecting doubles for the Cougars were Brandon Bachar, Matt Maestas, and Jack Pauley.

                The second game saw WNCC out hit Barton 13-11. The Cougars also had five extra base hits, including home runs by Maestas and Isaac Taylor.

                Maestas and Taylor were definitely the big bats on the day, Maestas finished the game going 4-for-5 with a sixth-inning solo home run. He also had two runs scored and two RBIs.

                Taylor finished the game with three hits, including an eighth-inning 2-run home run that scored Maestas. Taylor also scored two runs and had two RBIs.

                Taylor and Maestas teamed up and almost brought the Cougars back in the ninth. The two recorded two-out singles but both were left stranded on base to end the game.

                Also collecting three singles in the game was Aaron Morrison. Morrison also had two RBIs.

                The only other hitter with an extra base hit was Austin Michaud with a seventh inning triple.

                Isaac Block was the hard-luck losing pitcher, going five innings in allowing five hits and four runs. Block struck out six. Montana Giesbrect tossed two innings in allowing three runs on five hits while fanning two. Beau Lofink pitched a perfect eighth, striking out all three batters he faced.

First Game

WNCC                   031 001 – 5 11 0

Barton                  032 703 – 15 16 1

LP – Lincoln Trujillo; 2B – Brandon Bachar, Matt Maestas, Jack Pauley.

Second Game

WNCC                   010 002 020 – 5 13 2

Barton                  103 000 30x – 7 11 0

LP – Isaac Block; 2B – Maestas, Isaac Taylor; 3B Austin Michaud; HR – Maestas, Taylor