The Western Nebraska Community College softball team had to start a new win streak Tuesday after the Cougars and Trinidad State Junior College split a doubleheader at Volunteer Field.

                Trinidad's Teddi Garcia held the Cougar bats in check, striking out eight in game one in leading the Trojans to a 5-3 win. The second game saw Michaela Kelly, Bri George, and Hannah Baesler belt back-to-back solo home runs in the fourth to hold on for a 5-4 win.

                WNCC moves to 24-18 overall and 16-6 in conference play while Trinidad goes to 20-23 overall and 11-13 in conference play.

                WNCC will be back in action for a conference doubleheader on Thursday at 3 and 5 p.m.

                Kelly, who had one of the solo home runs in game two, said they couldn't dig themselves out of the deficit in game one.

                "Game one we got too content and then dug ourselves in a hole we couldn't get out of in time," the sophomore third baseman said. "Game two we came back with fight and higher expectations and we were able to pull out the win."

                Kelly said they need to play a lot better on Thursday and even the weekend when they host games on Saturday and Sunday.

                "We have to come out from the very beginning with a lot of fight no matter who we are playing," she said. "We just need to stay consistent in the field and at the plate and we will be successful."

                The second game saw a gutsy pitching performance from Emma McMillan while the offense got some clutch hits for the win.

McMillan scattered eight hits and allowed four runs, one of which was earned. McMillan also struck out eight to give her 24 for the three games this week after she tied a school record with 15 strikeouts against McCook on Sunday.

                WNCC opened the scoring with a single run in the first. The lead stayed that way until the fourth when Kelly, George, and Baesler crushed pitches in consecutive at bats for a 4-1 lead.

                The lead stayed that way until the seventh when Trinidad mounts a comeback by scoring three runs and had the tying run in scoring position when McMillan struck out the final batter for the win.

                WNCC had just six hits in the win. Kelly led the way with two hits including a home run and two RBIs.

                The first game saw WNCC score first with a single run in the first, but Trinidad answered with three in the second for a 3-1 lead. The Trojans added single runs in the fourth and fifth for a 5-1 lead.

                WNCC came charging back with two in the fifth. Sidnee Hogan started the rally with a lead-off single. Emma Glawson followed with a single that rolled past a diving centerfielder and went to the fence. Glawson hustled all the way around the bases to score on that blooper of a hit.

                That was as close as the Cougars got as they had a runner on in both the sixth and seventh, but couldn't get any clutch hits to bring the runners home.

                WNCC finished with seven hits in the contest to Trinidad's 10.

                Three Cougars finished with two hits each. George led the way with two hits including the only extra base hit with a double. Glawson and Tylar Davis each had two hits.

                Glawson took the loss in the circle, going all seven innings in allowing 10 hits and five runs two of which were earned. Glawson struck out two and walked one.

Game 1

Trinidad                030 110 0 – 5 10 1

WNCC                   100 020 0 – 3 7 5

LP – Emma Glawson.

2B – Bri George.

Game 2

Trinidad                000 010 3 – 4 8 1

WNCC                   100 310 x – 5 6 3

WP – Emma McMillan.

2B – Abriana Ramirez.

HR – Michaela Kelly, Bri George, Hannah Baesler.