PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team opened its Spring Break trip in Arizona with a heart-breaking 14-inning lost to Madison College, who finished runner-up at the NJCAA Division II national championship a year ago.
The 14-inning game was one of the longest in Cougar history. The Cougars had several one and two extra-inning games including a 12-inning affair back on April 16, 2012, against McCook when the Cougars lost 4-3.
Sunday's contest was one of missed opportunities for the Cougars, but also timely defensive plays to keep the game going.
WNCC got behind the 8-ball early as Madison scored three times in the third for a 3-0 lead. Madison kept WNCC from scoring runs through the first five innings, but it was the sixth that the Cougars broke the goose-egg with four runs.
The fourth started as Shintaro Inoue and Drew Book had singles. Inoue scored as Tyler Easter reached on a 2-out error for the first run. Garrett Dodd then doubled home Book and Easter. Dylan Harris then singled in Dodd for the go-ahead run.
WNCC added another run in the seventh as Eli Hernandez led off with a solo shot for the 5-3 lead.
WNCC held Madison in check until the eighth when the Wolfpack scored twice to not the score. WNCC had a chance to retake the lead in the top of the ninth as WNCC loaded the passes on three free passes with two outs, but WNCC couldn't score the go-head run.
WNCC had another prime opportunity to score in the 13th innings as Harris reached base on an error followed by Isaac Smith recording a single. Both were stranded on base.
Madison won the game in the 14th. After one out, Nicolas Tremblay walked a batter. A single and double later, the Wolfpack scored the go-ahead winning run for the 6-5 win.
WNCC finished with nine hits in the contest. Inoue and Smith were the only Cougars with multiple hits. Dodd had a double with two RBIs while Hernandez had a home run.
The difference was the pitching. Madison's three pitchers allowed nine hits and struck out 15 Cougars. The Cougars used three pitchers used allowed 14 hits with eight strikeouts. Wyatt Zsidisin started and went four innings in allowing three hits, three runs, and striking out three. Adrian Short followed with five innings pitched, allowing eight hits, two runs and striking out five. Nicolas Tremblay took the loss, tossing the final 4 1/3 innings in allowing three hits, one run, and striking out one.
WNCC will be back in action Monday when they face Central Arizona College in a doubleheader in Coolidge, Arizona.
Sunday's Game
WNCC 000 004 100 000 00 – 5 9 1
Madison 003 000 020 000 01 – 6 14 4
LP – Nicolas Tremblay.
2B – Garrett Dodd.
HR – Eli Hernandez.