Star-Herald Staff Report

SNYDER, Texas — The Western Nebraska Community College softball team continued its strong start to the season with a doubleheader sweep of West Texas College on Friday in Snyder, Texas.

The wins improved the Cougars to 4-0. WNCC swept Frank Phillips College in its season openers on Thursday.

WNCC's offense continued to hit on all cylinders in Friday's sweep. The Cougars piled up 18 hits in an 11-7 win in game one and followed that up with 12 hits in a 9-7 win.

Lauren Oxford swung the hot bat in the first game as she went 4-for-5 with two doubles and five runs batted in. Celyn Whitt, Jasmine Wessel, and Madi Jackson all followed with three hits each. Whitt doubled twice. Wessel, Jackson, and Sarah Linford each finished with one two bagger. Whitt scored three runs.

After scoring six runs in the top of the first, WNCC never trailed. West Texas pulled even at 6-6 in the bottom of the third, but the Cougars went back in front for good with three runs in the fifth.

Ashley Thomas recorded a complete-game win in the circle. She scattered 11 hits, allowed six earned runs, and fanned six. The freshman righthander is now 2-0 on the season.

WNCC trailed 5-3 through three innings of game two, but surged in front for good with three runs in the fourth. The Cougars added three insurance runs in the sixth.

Whitt led the 12-hit attack with four hits. She drove in a pair of runs. Jackson was the only other hitter in the lineup with multiple hits as she went 3-for-3. Wessel, Oxford, and Ana Apodaco each finished with a double. Whitt, Wessel, and Oxford all drove in two runs. Oxford and Julia Suchan finished with a team-high two runs scored.

Linford went the distance in the cirle to improve her season record to 2-0. The freshman righthander scattered 12 hits, allowed six earned runs, and struck out one.

WNCC will conclude its Texas swing with two more games against West Texas College on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.

Game One

WNCC    620 030 0 — 11 18 2

West Texas    024 001 0 — 7 11 1

WP — Ashley Thomas.

2B — Jasmine Wessel, Madi Jackson, Celyn Whitt (2), Sarah Lindford, Lauren Oxford (2).

Game Two

WNCC (4-0)    300 303 0 — 9 12 1

West Texas    041 000 2 — 7 12 2

WP — Sarah Linford.

2B — Jasmine Wessel, Ana Apodaca, Lauren Oxford.

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