The Western Nebraska Community College softball team played tough, but the Cougars just couldn't pull out a win on Sunday, falling twice in Region IX conference games to McCook Community College.

                The first game saw WNCC give up eight early runs as McCook went on to earn the 10-2 win in five innings.

                The second contest saw WNCC lead early 3-1 and later tied at 7-7 entering the seventh. But, the Indians added six runs in the seventh to earn the 13-7 win.

                The first game saw McCook score three times in first all on a 3-run Taryn Jenkins home run. The Indians added a single run in the second to lead 4-0.

                WNCC cut the deficit in half with two in the second. Lexi Butterfield started things with a double followed by Chloe Cronquist getting a single. Both scored on an Erin Hanafin single.

                That was it for the scoring for the Cougars while McCook scored four in the third and two in the fifth.

                WNCC had five hits in the contest. Butterfield had two of the hits with a double. Cronquist, Hanafin, and Mackenzie Bakel each had the other hits. Hanafin had two RBIs in the game.

                The second contest was the game of the day. McCook struck first with a run in the first, but WNCC answered with three in the second to grab a 3-1 lead. The second inning started when Bailey Blanchard walked and Briana Henson singled. That set up Emma Schweitzer, who took the first pitch and sent the 2-out ball over the centerfield fence for a 3-run home run.

                The lead didn't last long as McCook added five runs in the third on four singles to hold a 6-3 lead. That McCook lead stayed that way until the fifth when WNCC tied the game at 6-6. Schweitzer led off with a walk followed by Bakel getting a single. Then, with two outs, Bella Coffman took the first pitch and sent a line drive over the left field fence that hit the second outfield fence on the fly for the tie.

                Each team scored once in the sixth. WNCC's run came as Blanchard walked and Henson singled. With two outs, Bakel singled in Blanchard, but Henson was stranded at third.

                McCook won the game with six runs in the seventh inning on five hits. The big hit was a grand slam by Taylor Thein.

                WNCC finished the game with eight hits. Bakel and Henson each had two hits with a run scored. Bakel also had an RBI. Coffman and Schweitzer each had three RBIs in the contest.

                WNCC will be home Friday and Saturday to wrap up the regular season when they host Lamar Community College. Friday's contest is slated for 1 p.m. while Saturday's action begins at 11 a.m.

Game 1

McCook                314 02 – 10 14 0

WNCC                   020 00 – 2 5 2

WP – Anna Wilcox; LP – Lexi Butterfield.

2B – WNCC (Lexi Butterfield); McCook (Taryn Jenkins, Ashland Baca).

HR – McCook (Alexis Cortez, Taryn Jenkins, Ashland Baca).

Game 2

McCook               105 001 6 – 13 14 0

WNCC                   030 031 0 – 7 8 1

WP – Amy Wilcox; LP – Chayden Chong.

2B – McCook (Emily Arp).

HR – WNCC (Bella Coffman, Emma Schweitzer); McCook (Taylor Thein).