GREAT BEND, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team combined to score 20 runs and collect 26 hits on Sunday, but it wasn't enough as the Cougars dropped 13-10 and 11-10 games to Barton Community College.
Both games showed the offensive potential of the Cougars. In the opener, the Cougars pounded out 13 hits and led 10-8 late after scoring three times in the first and fourth and four runs in the sixth.
The sixth inning rally started with Ryan Grasser leading off with a double. After a walk and a sacrifice fly, Austin Michaud scored another run with a single. Jonathan Bermudez had the big hit with a triple to leftfield that scored two for the 10-8 lead.
WNCC couldn't hold the lead as Barton scored five times in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead at 13-10.
Michaud led the team with three hits, including a double and three RBIs. Grasser, Bermudez, Alex Achtermann, and Jack Pauley all had two hits each. Grasser finished the game with two doubles and two runs scored, while Achtermann had two runs scored and two RBIs.
WNCC used three pitchers in the opener. Jose Mongo went four innings in allowing six hits and six runs while also striking out five. Nate Giefer was saddled with the loss in tossing one inning in allowing one hit and four runs. Achtermann also tossed one inning, allowing four hits and three runs.
The second game saw the Cougars provide the same kind of offensive power in holding to a 10-5 lead entering the bottom of the seventh. WNCC jumped out early on Barton, scoring three times in the second on four hits, including a double by Jack Pauley.
Barton jumped back in front 4-3 after four innings, but the Cougars regained the lead with four in the fifth and three in the sixth for a 10-4 lead. The fifth inning saw Stuart Eurich get a run-scoring triple and then Pauley unloaded for a 2-run home run.
WNCC's sixth inning saw the Cougars score three times on just three singles, while taking advantage of Barton miscues.
The Cougars couldn't hold the lead as they surrendered six runs on seven singles in Barton's last at bat to fall 11-10.
WNCC had 13 hits in the game, led by Pauley's three-hit game with a double, home run, two RBIs, and three runs scored. Michaud and Aaron Morrison were the only other players to notch multiple hits.
Zac Moran went the distance for the Cougars in striking out six in 6 1/3 innings of work. Moran faced just 37 batters with 125 pitches thrown.
WNCC will be back in action Friday when they host Lamar Community College in a Empire Conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
First Game
WNCC 300 304 0 – 10 13 2
Barton 110 425 x – 13 11 0
LP – Nate Giefer; 2B – Austin Michaud, Ryan Grasser 2; 3B – Jonathan Bermudez.
Second Game
WNCC 030 043 0 – 10 13 2
Barton 110 201 6 – 11 15 3
LP – Zac Moran; 2B – Jack Pauley; 3B – Stuart Eurich; HR – Pauley.