WNCC softball team splits with McCook

WNCC softball team splits with McCook

                The Western Nebraska Community College and McCook Community College softball teams hooked up in a Region IX conference doubleheader and just like last week, the two teams split contests Tuesday at Volunteer Field.

                The first game saw McCook finish with 14 hits and scored four runs in the second and fourth innings to come away with the 12-2 win.

                The second game was a different story for the Cougars both offensively and defensively. Reagan Solomon went seven strong innings and the WNCC defense held McCook to just two runs in posting the 6-2 win.

                Alyssa Guymon said the big difference between the two games was defense.

"The big key between game one and game two was our defense," the sophomore second baseman said. "We got out of several bases loaded situations and that really helped us. We also executed as the plate and were able to string hits together."

                Overall, Guymon said there are just little things they need to iron out.

                "We played well in the second game, but obviously there are some things that could have been better," she said. "But it was good to get the win."

                WNCC will be back in action Wednesday when they host North Platte Community College in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

                Guymon is hoping her team comes ready to play, like they did in game two against McCook.

                "Tomorrow [Wednesday] against North Platte we need to just come out with a lot of energy, play good defense, and hit the ball," she said. "We just need to do the little things right."

                They definitely did the little things in the game two victory. The big key for the Cougars was settling down on defense and getting out of three bases loaded jams. McCook left 17 runners stranded in the contest and the bases loaded in the first, second, fourth, sixth, and seventh.

                WNCC got on the scoreboard first with two runs in the third on as Abriana Ramirez led off with a single followed by a double by Emma McMillan. Brooke Doumer scored the first run with a sacrifice fly and then McMillan scored on a ground out for the 2-0 lead.

                McCook came back to tie the score at 2-2 with runs in the fifth inning on two doubles. WNCC came back in the bottom of the frame with four runs. Solomon led off with a single and scored on a McMillan single. WNCC loads the bases and both McMillan and Doumer score on a passed ball to push the lead to 5-2. Gabby Loya added the sixth run, singling home Madi Jackson.

                The Cougar defense came up big in the sixth and seventh. McCook loaded the bases in the sixth with no outs and Solomon induced two ground balls and an infield fly to get out of the frame unscathed.

                The defense got out of another bases loaded jam in the seventh to get the win.

                McCook outhit WNCC in the second game 14-9, but the Cougars made the most of their hits. McMillan, Jackson, and Loya each had two hits in the win. McMillan had a double with two runs scored and a RBI. Jackson had two singles with a runs scored and RBI, while Loya had two singles and RBI.

                Solomon went seven strong innings, scattering 14 hits and allowing just two runs. Solomon also struck out four and walked just two.

                The first game saw WNCC score first with a run in the first inning, but McCook came back with four runs each in the second and fourth to take an 8-1 lead. WNCC managed just one more run in the game and never could get anything going offensively.

                WNCC finished with eight hits in the contest, including four doubles. McMillan, Jackson, Kelly, and Gabby Loya each had two hits and one double. Kelly had the only RBI in the contest, while Jackson scored two runs.         

 

Game 1

McCook               040 401 3 – 12 14 1

WNCC                   100 100 0 – 2 8 6

LP – Emma McMillan

2B – Madi Jackson, Michaela Kelly, Gabby Loya, Emma McMillan

 

Game 2

McCook               000 020 0 – 2 14 9

WNCC                   002 040 x – 6 9 1

WP – Reagan Solomon

2B – Emma McMillan