TRINIDAD, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Trinidad State Junior College Saturday afternoon.
Trinidad scored four early runs in the opening game and then held on for a 7-4 win. The second game saw the Trojans shutdown the Cougars for a 10-0 five-inning win.
The drops the Cougars to 7-7 in the Empire Conference and 13-19 overall. Trinidad State stayed atop the standings, widening their lead. The Trojans are 8-1 in conference and 16-7 overall.
The Cougars will look to get back on the winning track when they host Northeastern Junior College in crucial conference games.
The first game was close as WNCC and Trinidad each finished with seven hits. The Cougars Alex Achtermann led the team with two hits. Matt Maestas had a big seventh-inning 2-run home run, while Jonathan Bermudez had a triple. Austin Michaud finished with a double.
Trinidad won the game with four runs in the first two innings. After a slow start, WNCC's bats came alive, scoring two in the fourth on Bermudez' run-scoring triple.
The Trojans answered with three runs in the fourth for a 7-2 lead before the Cougars mounted a seventh-inning comeback. Brandon Bachar started the come back with a single followed by a pinch-hit 2-run home run by Maestas.
The second game was a good pitcher's duel as Nate Giefer tossed three strong innings in allowing just a run on two hits while striking out three. The lone run that Giefer gave up was all the Trojans needed as Trinidad held WNCC scoreless.
WNCC finished with six hits in the game – all singles. Jack Pauley finished with two hits while also getting a stolen base.
First Game
WNCC 000 200 2 – 4 7 2
Trinidad 130 030 x – 7 7 0
LP – Montana Giesbrecht; 2B – Austin Michaud; 3B – Jonathan Bermudez; HR – Matt Maestas.
Second Game
WNCC 000 00 – 0 6 1
Trinidad 001 36 – 10 10 0
LP – Nate Giefer.