After eight games on the road, the Western Nebraska Community College softball team will have their home opener this weekend when they take on Trinidad State Junior College Friday and Saturday.

                Friday's conference doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. followed by Saturday's doubleheader at 11 a.m.

                WNCC has spent the last eight games on the road. The Cougars opened the season the first part of February when they went 3-3 in Texas. After nearly two weeks off, the Cougars returned to action Wednesday against Northeastern Junior College.

                The Cougars didn't fare well in the two contests with NJC on Wednesday, falling 5-4 and then 19-11.

                WNCC will look to get back on the winning track against a Trinidad State squad that won the Region IX title last season. Both teams enter with sub .500 records. WNCC is 3-5 on the season, while Trinidad enters with a 8-10 mark.

                Trinidad is 1-1 in conference play, after splitting a pair of games with Otero Junior College on Wednesday. The Trojans topped Otero 10-2 in the first game before falling 5-4 in the second game.

                The two Region IX perennial powers only have one opponent in common so far this season in Frank Phillips. WNCC topped Frank Phillips back on Feb. 7 when they beat the Texas team 12-0 and 18-3.

                Trinidad played Frank Phillips Thursday afternoon, where they won the first game 10-2 before taking the second 15-1.

                The two teams are equal on the season. Trinidad is batting .296 on the year with 78 runs scored. The Trojans have blasted seven home runs this season, led by Katie Glaze with three. Trinidad has also tallied 21 doubles and four triples.

                WNCC is batting .306 on the year with 56 runs scored. The Cougars have hit four home runs this season along with 22 doubles. Leading the Cougar team is sophomores Brooke Doumer and Madi Jackson. Jackson is batting .500 on the year with five doubles, eight RBIs, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases.

                Doumer is batting .429 on the season with five doubles, a home run, four RBIs, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases.

                WNCC also is led by Reagan Solomon at the plate with a .500 batting average. The freshman has seven hits, including a home run. She as a team-leading nine RBIs.

                Trinidad State is led by Rachel Duran with a .545 batting average with seven runs scored and 12 hits in nine games plated. Katie Glaze is batting .464 with eight doubles, 17 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. She also has six stolen bases. Avery Boccelio is right behind with a .423 batting average and 11 RBIs and six runs scored.

                After this weekend's four-game series, WNCC will host North Platte Community College on Tuesday before hosting Lamar Community College March 9-10.