Western Nebraska Community College's Haille Weber couldn't have asked for a better birthday present Saturday than what she did at the plate in a conference doubleheader against Otero Junior College.

                The freshman from Longmont, Colorado, finished the doubleheader going 6 of 8 with four doubles, two home runs, and seven RBIs. But despite Weber's birthday heroics, the Cougars managed only a split over Otero.

                In the opening game, Weber had five RBIs with two home runs and a double to lead the Cougars to an 11-5 win over the Rattlers. The second game saw Otero score 10 first-inning runs before WNCC started a comeback before falling 14-7.

                The two teams will be back in action today for another conference doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

                The opening game saw WNCC pound out 12 hits including seven extra base hits in getting the win. WNCC plated three runs in the second on a Weber 3-run home run. Otero came back to grab a 5-3 lead before the Cougars opened up the game with three runs in the sixth and five in the seventh.

                WNCC's sixth inning saw Weber tie the game with a 2-run shot after Kenzie Sawyer doubled. The Cougars then took the lead after Christian Bobian doubled home Courtney Medina.

                WNCC put the game away with five runs on four hits in the seventh. Sawyer started things with a 2-run double followed by a Weber double. Sawyer scored on a Whitney Fields sacrifice and then Medina singled home Weber and Bobian singled home Medina.

                Four different Cougars finished with multiple hits. Weber led the way with her 3-for-4, two home run contest. Medina also tallied three hits with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored.

                Bobian and Sawyer each had two hits. Bobian had a double with a RBI, while Sawyer had two doubles, three runs scored, and two RBIs.

                Andy Hancock picked up the win in the circle, going seven innings in allowing five runs on 10 hits while striking out four.

                WNCC rapped out 14 hits in the second game behind a 3-double game from Weber. Weber finished the game with two RBIs and a run scored on three hits.

                The Cougars, as a team pounded out 14 hits in the game. Besides Weber, Bobian finished with three hits, including a run scored and two stolen bases.

                Picking up two hits each were Medina, Sawyer, and Lauren Oxford. Oxford had a double with two runs scored, while Medina had a stolen base, a run scored, and a RBI.

                WNCC was their worst enemy in the opening inning, allowing 10 runs on just five hits and a couple errors. After that, WNCC settled in and fought back, cutting the lead to 10-7 with single runs in the third and fifth, three in the fourth, and two in the sixth. The rally, however, came up just a little too short as Otero added four insurance runs in the sixth for the final score.

                WNCC is now 5-3 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. Otero moves to 4-8 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

First Game

WNCC                   030 003 5 – 11 12 1

Otero                    130 010 0 – 5 10 4

WP – Andy Hancock; 2B – Christian Bobian, Courtney Medina, Kenzie Sawyer 2, Haille Weber; HR – Weber 2.

Second Game

WNCC                   001 312 0 – 7 14 4

Otero                    (10)00 004 x – 14 16 1

LP – Whitney Fields; 2B – Weber 3, Lauren Oxford.