GREAT BEND, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team fell twice to Barton Community College in their season-openers on Saturday in Great Bend, Kan.
The Cougars lost the first game of the doubleheader 9-1 and then fell in a heartbreaker, falling 11-10 in 10 innings.
The second game was the game to watch as there was plenty of excitement. Barton opened things by scoring a at least a run in the first four innings for a 5-0 lead. WNCC came back with five runs in the fifth on five hits.
The fifth started with back-to-back singles by Quinn McCafferty and Sergio Tarango. McCafferty scored the first run of the game for the Cougars on a wild pitch. Luis Alcantara then singled to score Tarengo and Jack Jones to cut the lead to 5-3. Joey Olson followed with a 2-run double to tie the game at 5-5.
Barton came back and plated four in the sixth to grab a 9-5 lead. WNCC rebounded by scoring two in the seventh and three in the eighth to take a 10-9 lead. Jayden Orozco started the seventh with a single and scored on an error. Olson scored the second run on Tarango fielder's choice hit.
The eighth saw Alcantara, Orozco, and Olson all single to load the bases. Dillon Fabricus doubled to score two and Olson came in to score put Cougars up 10-9 on a JT Cafferty ground out.
Barton tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the eighth. No one scored in the ninth setting up the 10th. WNCC didn't score in their half and Barton scores the winning run on an error for the win.
WNCC outhit Barton in game two 14-6. Orozco and Olson each had three hits. Orozco had three runs scored, while Olson had two runs scored and two RBIs. Alcantara also had two hits with two runs scored and two RBIs. Cafferty had two RBIs. Caleb Coats also had two hits in the contest.
WNCC used three pitchers in the game Jerson Morales started and went four innings in giving up five runs while striking out four. Harold Baez followed with three innings of work in allowing four runs and striking out two. Potter took the loss, tossing the final 2 2/3 innings in allowing just two runs, one hit, and striking out three.
The first game was all Barton as the Kansas Cougars scored four in the first, a single run in the second and three more in the third for an 8-0 lead. Barton added a single run in the fourth for a 9-0 lead.
WNCC scored it's first run of the season in the seventh has Cafferty was hit by a pitch and scored on a Matt Womack double.
Barton outhit WNCC 12-4 in the contest. Womack and Orozco each had two hits for the Cougars. Womack had two doubles with a RBI.
Chandler Young took the loss, going three innings in allowing eight hits and striking out two. Trent Richter finished off the game in going three innings in allowing four hits, one run, and striking out five.
WNCC and Barton will be back in action on Sunday for another doubleheader.
Game 1
WNCC 000 000 1 – 1 4 2
Barton 413 100 x – 9 12 0
LP – Chandler Young
2B – Joey Orozco, Matt Womack 2
Game 2
WNCC 000 050 230 0 – 10 14 4
Barton 211 104 010 1 – 11 6 3
LP – Will Potter
2B – Joey Olson, Dillon Fabricus.