BORGER, TEXAS – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team opened up the season with a pair of shutouts Thursday against Frank Phillips College.

                In the opener, Andy Hancock tossed a one-hitter as the Cougars posted an 8-0 win. Game two was Whitney Fields and Christian Bobian combined on a 2-hitter while the offense pounded out 14 hits for the 13-0 win.

                "Started slow offensively in game one, but finally made some adjustments in the fifth and sixth to put up runs," WNCC coach Maria Winn-Ratliff said. "Andy threw a great game giving up one hit and three strike outs. Game two it was nice to put runs up early for Whit. She threw very well and Christian did a great job coming in the fourth and fifth.

                Winn-Ratliff said there were a lot of positives from the two wins Thursday.

                "We saw a lot of good things today and our freshmen really stepped up and played well," she said. "There is always something to take away from any game and we still have a lot to work on before opening conference play. But, it is always nice when your staff throws two shut outs and only gives up three hits and your offense puts up 21 runs."

                WNCC did start slow in the opening game, but started to warm up with two in the fifth and six in the fifth for the win.

                WNCC pounded out nine hits, including five extra base hits. Haille Weber had the hot bat, going 2-for-4 with a double, triple and a RBI. Jasmine Wessel also tallied two hits with a double and a run scored.

                Also collecting doubles in the contest were Brittany Bigge, while Celyn Whitt had a triple with two runs scored and two RBIs.

                WNCC also had four stolen bases, two from Courtney Medina and one each from Whitt and Bigge.

                Hancock was masterful in the circle, tossing six innings with three strikeouts and just two hits with 79 pitches thrown.

                WNCC was even more offensive-minded in game two, pounding out six extra base hits. WNCC started the game with two in the first and one in the second for a 3-0 lead.

                The Cougars put the game away in a 10-run third inning which included nine hits with a run-scoring triple by Weber, back-to-back run-scoring doubles by Wessel and Lauren Oxford, and a two-run home run Kenzie Sawyer.

                Oxford led the charge at the plate with a 3-for-4 game with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Three players finished with two hits each. Wessel had two hits with a double, two RBIs, and two runs scored, while Whitt and went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a RBI.

                Sawyer also had a 2-hit game with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored.

                Also collecting extra base hits was Weber with a triple. Weber finished with two runs scored and a RBI.

                WNCC also swiped five bases. Bigge was big on the base paths with two stolen bases while Courtney Medina, Weber, and Whitt each had one.

                Fields started the game, going three innings in striking out three and allowing two hits. Christian Bobian finished off the game with the final two innings in not allowing a run or walk, while striking out two.

                WNCC will be back in action Friday and Saturday when they face Western Texas College.

Game One

WNCC                   000 026 – 8 9 0
Frank Phillips    000 000 – 0 1 1

WP – Andy Hancock; 2B – Jasmine Wessel, Haille Weber, Brittany Bigge; 3B – Weber, Celyn Whitt.

Game Two

WNCC (2-0)        21(10) 00 – 13 14 2

Frank Phillips    000 00 – 0 2 3

WP – Whitney Fields; 2B – Wessel, Whitt, Lauren Oxford; 3B – Weber; HR – Kenzie Sawyer.