Reagan Solomon struck out seven and tossed a 3-hitter in helping the Western Nebraska Community College softball team earn a split with Trinidad State Junior College Friday afternoon at Volunteer Field.

                Solomon and the Cougar defense was solid in the second game in registering a 2-0 win over the Trojans. The win was huge for the Cougars after suffering a hard-fought 5-3 defeat to the Trojans in the first game.

                The two squads will be back at it again at Volunteer field on Saturday for another doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.

                Solomon said her team showed plenty of fight in capturing the second-game victory.

                "Overall we really came together as a team today and played very well," the freshman pitcher said. "We came back fighting after losing the first game and we were very hungry for that second game win. It was really big of us."

                While Solomon was doing her job in the circle, it was the defense behind her that provided the lift.

                "Our defense was amazing," she said. "As a pitcher it gives me all the confidence in the world knowing I have a great team behind me that has by back. I really think the key was that we relaxed and played our game the way we know how."

                The second game actually was a defensive battle. WNCC scored the only runs of the game in the third inning. Brooke Doumer started the inning with a one-out single. AB Ramirez followed with another single. Hannah Schaefer followed by drawing a 2-out walk to load the bases for Madi Jackson, who unleashed a line drive double to centerfield to play two runs.

                That was all the scoring the Cougars needed as Solomon and the rest of the defense stepped up, including a big double play in the sixth inning.

                WNCC outhit Trinidad in the win. Jackson led the charge with two doubles along with two RBIs. AB Ramirez also tallied two hits, while scoring a run.

                Solomon picked up the win, tossing just 83 pitches in seven innings. Solomon allowed three hits, struck out seven and walked just three.

                The first game WNCC started the game well, scoring single runs in the first three innings to hold a 3-2 lead. After that, the Cougars just couldn't get the clutch hit to get any extra runs across as Trinidad scored two in the fifth and one in the seventh for the win.

                WNCC finished with six hits in the contest. Loya and Ramirez each had a double in the game. Hannah Schaefer had two RBIs, while Jackson scored two runs.

                Emily McMillian took the loss, going seven innings in allowing nine hits and five runs, while fanning seven.

Game 1

Trinidad                101 020 1 – 5 9 1

WNCC                   111 000 0 – 3 6 2

LP – Emma McMillian

2B – Gabby Loya, AB Ramirez

Game 2

Trinidad                000 000 0 – 0 3 0

WNCC                   002 000 x – 2 6 2

WP – Reagan Solomon

2B – Madi Jackson 2