The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team received a strong outing from Brian Kelley in game two and the Cougar men registered an Empire Conference doubleheader split with Lamar Community College Friday afternoon at Cleveland Field.
The first game saw Lamar score six late runs to capture the come-from-behind 7-4 win. The second game saw Kelly go six strong innings in registering three strikeouts as the Cougars registered the 9-7 win.
WNCC coach Mike Jones said the team played well especially in game two.
"We played well offensively in both games," he said. "Really, in the second game, the first time through the batting lineup we struggled with their left-handed pitcher. The second time through we made some adjustments and gained some momentum. Once we got some momentum going, we were able to put up a bunch of runs."
Jones said making those adjustments at the plate was key. WNCC outhit Lamar in the second game 10-8 with big doubles from Isaac Taylor and Austin Michaud.
"At this level of the game everybody has talent," Jones said. "You have to make an adjustment of what they have, what they can do, what they are trying to do to beat you, and then you have to take some things away from them."
Brian Kelley got the start on the mound and after a rough first inning where he allowed two runs, Kelley settled down. He allowed three more runs in the sixth, but overall he had command of his pitches. Beau Lofink came in got the save, tossing the seventh.
"Brian pitched a good ball game," Jones said. "He was shaky at the beginning in the first inning but he settled down and really started to mix up his breaking ball and change-up and that speeds up his fast ball. Once he can get the off=speed stuff going, he really got control of the game."
The offense also started to find a groove scoring three times in the fourth to grab the lead and adding a six-spot in the fifth to grab a 9-2 lead.
The Cougars scored the three, fourth-inning runs on three hits. The big hit was a 2-run double by Taylor.
The fifth saw WNCC score six runs on five hits. WNCC also took advantage of three hit-by-pitches. The big hits came from Aaron Morrison and Stuart Eurich each with a 2-run singles.
Michaud, Taylor, and Jack Pauley each had two hits for the Cougars. Pauley had two singles with two runs scored. Eurich and Morrison each had RBIs. Taylor finished the game with three RBIs and two runs scored.
The first game saw the Cougars strike early, scoring four times in the first on five hits. Oscar Perez started off the inning with a single and continue as Michaud had a single. Jack Pauley and Matt Maestas followed with run-scoring doubles before Brandon Bachar finished the first-inning scoring with a run-scoring single.
Starting Pitching Bradley Brown was cruising until the fifth when Lamar scored four times to grab a 5-4 lead. Lamar added two insurance runs in the sixth to get the win.
WNCC managed eight hits in the contest. Pauley was the only with multiple hits, including a double, a run scored, and a RBI.
Jones said the split against Lamar gives his team some confidence heading into a busy week. WNCC will take on Otero in an Empire Conference doubleheader Sunday before heading to Arizona for Spring Break games.
"We are a good team and we know we have a chance to be right in the think of it," he said. "Lamar has a good ball club as well and for us to come out and play some quality games in the match-up shows a lot of potential for our ball club later in March and through April."
First Game
Lamar 000 142 0 – 7 14 0
WNCC 400 000 0 – 4 8 2
LP – Bradley Brown; 2B – Matt Maestas, Ryan Grasser, Jack Pauley.
Second Game
Lamar 200 003 2 – 7 8 1
WNCC 000 360 x – 9 10 2
WP – Brian Kelley, S – Beau Lofink; 2B – Austin Michaud, Isaac Taylor.