It was the final regular-season game of the season for the Western Nebraska Community College and the team had one thing on their mind, close out the regular season with a win.

                The team did just that in thrilling fashion as Jack Jones' 2-out single in the ninth scored Quinn McCafferty with the winning run to give the Cougars a 10-9 win Saturday afternoon at Cleveland Feld.

                Jones, one of 14 sophomores who won't be returning next year, said getting the walk-off in his final game at home was special.

                "I feel great, that's the best moment for me in this last game," Jones said. "I've been here for a while, so it was nice to end on that for sure."

                The contest was a wild one with plenty of lead changes. McCook put up three runs to start the game before WNCC cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the first as McCafferty and Jones each earned walks. McCafferty scored on a Eli Hernandez double and Jones scored on a Dalton Nelson sacrifice fly.

                After a strong start, neither team put a run across for a couple innings. WNCC broke that scoreless streak with a run in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3 when Drew Book singled and scored on a 2-out single by Dylan Howard.

                The Indians scored the three runs in the top of the fifth to take a 6-3 lead.

                WNCC came back with a four-spot in the sixth to lead 7-6. Book was hit by a pitch followed by Dillon Fabricus getting a single. Max Adam then walked to load the bases. Another walk by Howard force in one run and then Spencer Ohu singled in another run. Adam each scored on sacrifice flies.

                The Cougar defense held McCook scoreless for the next two innings while WNCC added two insurance runs in the eighth to go up 9-6. McCafferty started things by reaching on an error followed by Jones slapping a single. Nelson doubled home McCafferty while Jones scored on a Book ground-out.

                WNCC couldn't hold the lead in the ninth as McCook plated three runs to tied things at 9-9 on a double, passed ball, and a wild pitch.

                That set up the heroics for Jones in the ninth. Howard started things with single. McCafferty reached on a fielder's choice hit to be the lone base-runner on with two outs. McCafferty stole second on the fifth pitch and the sixth pitch saw Jones rip a single to centerfield and McCafferty scored the winning run as the ball sailed over the catcher's head.

                WNCC out-hit McCook 13-8. Jones was one of two players with a multi-hit game as he went 4-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Howard was the other, going 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Hernandez and Nelson had two RBIs apiece.

                The Cougars utilized six pitchers as Harold Baez got the start, going two innings and allowing four hits, three runs and one walk while recording three strikeouts. Thibault Mercadier, JJ Garza, Wyatt Zsidisin, Aiden Schultz and Caden Eymann saw time on the mound with Eymann getting the win on the mound.

                "It was a big bullpen game for us. We were trying to save our arms for the playoffs coming up next week," Jones said. "We were trying to use our bullpen and be as efficient as possible.

                WNCC will travel to Trinidad State for the first-round of the Region IX Tournament and will play the Trojans on Friday, May 6. The Cougars will work to refine certain areas of their game before Friday.

                "I think a couple things we can do is refine our defense and try and clean it up a little bit," Jones said. "Offensively, just scoring runs and just finding ways to put ourselves in the game."

McCook               300 030 003 -- 9 8 1

WNCC                   200 104 021 -- 10 13 2

WP – Caden Eymann.

2B -- Eli Hernandez, Dalton Nelson.