GARDEN CITY, Kan. -- The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team opened the season with a pair of losses to Garden City Community College Saturday afternoon.

                In the opener, WNCC was no hit in five innings in five innings. The second game the Cougars hung tough with the Broncbusters before falling 7-3.

                The two squads will be back in action Sunday for another doubleheader.

                The first game saw the Garden City pitcher come within one batter of a five-inning perfect game. Brandon Bachar had a lead-off, third-inning walk. Other than that, Garden City's pitcher tallied seven strikeouts.

                Bradley Brown took the loss on the mound, going four innings in striking out seven but giving up two walks and seven hits. Nate Giefer finished off the game, tossing the fifth in striking out one and allowing three hits and two runs.

                After being no-hit in the opener, the Cougars offense came smoking in the second game, finishing with 10 hits and staying with Garden City.

                The Cougars opened the game with a single run in the first as Oscar Perez douibled and Alex Achteman walked. Jack Pauley then singled in one run for the 1-0 lead.

                Garden City added three runs in the bottom of the first but WNCC sliced the lead to 3-2 with a run in the third after Pauley doubled and scored on a Matt Maestas sacrifice.

                Garden City added a single run in the fourth before WNCC plated another run in the seventh as Bachar and Isaac Taylor each singled. Taylor scored on an errand throw.

                Pauley paced the Cougars with three hits including a double. Pauley also scored a run and had a RBI. Collecting two hits each were Perez, Isaac Taylor, and Bachar. Maestas also had a RBI, while Taylor and Perez each scored runs.

                Brian Kelley picked up the loss on the mound, going five innings in allowing four runs, eight hits, and two walks while striking out four. Beau Lofink finished off the game, tossing three innings in allowing three hits and three runs while striking out three.

First Game

WNCC                   000 00 – 0 0 1

Garden City        170 02 – 10 10 0

LP – Bradley Brown.

Second Game

WNCC (0-2)        101 000 100 – 3 10 1

Garden City        300 100 12x – 7 11 2

LP – Brian Kelley; 2B – Oscar Perez, Jack Pauley.