WICHITA, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team tuned up nicely with a sweep over Friends University junior varsity Thursday in Wichita, Kansas.

                In the opener, Andy Hancock scattered four hits in leading the Cougars to the 15-0 win. Whitney Fields tossed a one-hitter and Kenzie Sawyer had two home runs to lead the Cougars to the 10-0 win.

                WNCC put the first game away with seven runs in the second inning. WNCC had three doubles in the second inning. Christian Bobian started things with a 2-run double followed by Sawyer Jasmine Wessel with a run-scoring doubles.

                WNCC finished with 15 hits in the contest. Sawyer led the way with a 3-for-4 game with a double, home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored.

                Also collecting two hits each were Bobian, Wessel, Lauren Oxford, and Celyn Whitt. Bobian and Wessel each had a double, two runs scored and two RBIs, while Oxford had two runs scored with a RBI. Whitt had two singles with two runs scored and a RBI.

                Hancock went four innings in scattering four hits with three strikeouts. Payten Davies finished the game, tossing the fifth in striking out one.

                WNCC took control of the second game early thanks to the two home run performance of Sawyer. Sawyer got the scoring going in the first with a 2-out, 2-run home run. WNCC added three more in the second for a 5-0 lead.

                WNCC added two more in the third with Lauren Oxford providing a run-scoring double for the 7-0 lead.

                The Cougars put the game away in the fourth when Sawyer had her second home run, a 2-run shot for the 10-0 lead.

                WNCC finished with 10 hits in the second game. Sawyer went 2-for-3 with two home runs, four RBIs, and three runs scored. Only Courtney Medina had more than one hit with two singles, two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base.

                Lauren Oxford and Haille Weber each had a double in the win.

                Fields had a strong pitching game, going five innings in allowing just one hit while fanning eight.

                WNCC, 49-10, will now get ready for the Region IX tournament where they host Otero Junior College in a best of three series. The action begins Monday at 3 and 5 p.m. with an if-necessary game slated for Tuesday. The winner will face the winner of the Trinidad/McCook series in the championship series a week later.   

First Game

WNCC                   170 34 – 15 15 0

Friends JV           000 00 – 0 4 3

WP – Andy Hancock; 2B – Christian Bobian, Jasmine Wessel, Shelby Martinez, Kenzie Sawyer; HR – Kenzie Sawyer.

Second Game

WNCC (49-10)    232 30 – 10 10 0

Friends JV           000 00 – 0 1 5

WP – Whitney Fields; 2B – Haille Weber, Lauren Oxford; HR – Kenzie Sawyer 2.