Lexi Butterfield hammered three home runs on the day and the Western Nebraska Community College softball team made sophomore recognition day for the seven graduating players a successful won with two Region IX conference wins over Luna Community College Sunday afternoon at a windy and cold Volunteer Field.

                The first game saw Butterfield hammer two home runs and finish with four RBIs in helping the Cougars to a 14-6 win. Butterfield ended the game with a walk-off 2-run home run in the sixth inning.

                The second game saw Victoria Wharton go 4-for-4 and Butterfield hammer another round-tripper in helping the Cougars to the 12-6 win.

                The two teams will be back in action Monday afternoon in another conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Volunteer Field.

                Emma Schweitzer and Bailey Blanchard, two of the seven graduating sophomores, said the team played well and did what they needed to do offensively and defensively to get the wins.

                "The team played great today," Blanchard, who went 2-for-2 in game two, said. "We played team softball. When our teammates found a way on base, we score them. We also had our pitchers backs on defense. With wind being as unpredictable as it was, our defense was able to play the wind, and go catch balls in the air."

                Schweitzer, who was 2-for-3 in the second game with a triple, said it was two good wins.

                "I thought the team today played really well," the sophomore said. "I think we came out wanting to win on our home field. Even though they scored first, we didn't let that get to us. I think the sophomores and everyone else wanted to come out and show what Cougar softball is like."

                The Cougars generated a lot of runs and got big base hits when they needed. The other thing was the defense played well in adjusting to the gusty conditions.

                "The defense played great and made a lot of good plays to get out of innings," Schweitzer said. "I think our defense read the wind well and took it as an advantage against Luna. We know how our wind is at Volunteer Field and we didn't let it beat us today."

                Blanchard said the defensive play was crucial in the conditions that two teams had to endure.

                "Defense did a good job at protecting the ball. Luna had a few hard hits. However, our defense did a really good job at not giving them any extra bases," she said. "The defense also played the wind really well. Our outfield made a lot of difficult plays."

                As for the offense, Blanchard said they scored runners when they needed.

                "Our offense also came in clutch multiple times," she said. "We would get a runner on and almost every time we would score her. Our offense also did a really good job at extending an inning. Even with two outs we found ways to get on base and score."

                Game one was a dogfight early on. Luna started things with two in the first only to watch WNCC score three in the first. WNCC also plated three in the second for a 6-2 lead.

                WNCC's first inning saw Victoria Wharton earn a walk and score on a Macyn double. Hartman would come around to score on a wild pitch. Erin Hanafin made it 3-2 as she ripped a home run to left field that hit the second outfield fence on the short-hop bounce.

                WNCC added three more in the second as Schweitzer and Blanchard both singled. Then, with two outs, Hartman rocketed a 3-run home run to centerfield for the 6-2 lead.

                Luna comes back and adds four in the third on a home run and three singles to tie the game at 6-6.

                The tie was short-lived as the Cougars added three in the bottom of the third for the 9-6 lead. Hanafin leads off by hitting a ball to rightfield that is misplayed and the speedy Hanafin wound up on third base. Hanafin scored on Mackenzie Bakel's sacrifice fly. Chloe Cronquist then doubled and she came in on Butterfield's home run.

                WNCC added three more runs in the fifth and then two in the sixth to end the game via the 8-run rule.

                The fifth saw WNCC score their runs as Butterfield singled and scored on a Schweitzer double. WNCC then loaded the bases as Bella Coffman and Blanchard each walked. Hartman followed with a single to score two to make it 12-6.

                The sixth saw Hanafin lead off with a double and then with two outs, Butterfield homered to rightfield to end the game on a walk-off 2-run home run.

                WNCC outhit Luna 14-10. Five Cougar players had two or more hits. Hartman led the way with three hits including a double, home run, six RBIs, and two runs scored.

                Collecting two hits each were Hanafin, Schweitzer, and Blanchard. Hanafin had a double and home run with three runs scored and an RBI. Schweitzer had a double with a run scored and an RBI, while Blanchard had two singles with two runs scored.

                Lexi Parker picked up the win, going three innings in surrendering six runs and striking out four. Butterfield got the save in going three innings in not allowing a run and giving up just one hit with one strikeout.

                Game two saw Luna lead 1-0 and the Roughriders had ties at 2-2 after three and 5-5 after 4 ½ innings.

                WNCC had two runs in the second to lead 2-1 as Hanafin led off with a single and scored on a passed ball. Wharton singled in the second run, scoring Butterfield.

                After Luna scored one in the third to tie the game at 2-2, WNCC went up 5-2 with three runs in the fourth. Schweitzer led off the frame with a triple and scored on a Cronquist single. With two outs, Blanchard and Wharton each singled. Blanchard scored on a Hartman single. Wharton came in to score on a Taylor Klein single to put WNCC up 5-2.

                That lead didn't last long as Luna scored three in the fifth on a 3-run home run. WNCC answered back with two in the fifth and then five in the sixth to lead 12-5. The fifth saw Schweitzer single and Arianna Plorin come in to score after an error to WNCC up 6-5. Butterfield then delivered her third home run of the day as she ripped a solo shot for the 7-5 lead.

                The sixth inning was a big inning as the Cougars got base hits at clutch times and led 12-5. Wharton started things with a double and Klein reaches on a fielder's choice. Both Wharton and Klein score on a Hanafin triple. Hanafin scored on a Bakel single and Bakel would later score on an error. Cronquist would get a triple and she scored Butterfield double for the 12-5 lead.

                WNCC outhit Luna 16-9 in game two. Wharton led the way with four hits, all singles, and scored twice.

                Collecting two hits each were Hanafin, Schweitzer, Cronquist, and Blanchard. Hanafin had a triple with two runs scored and two RBIs. Schweitzer had a triple with a run scored. Cronquist had a double with a run scored and a RBI, while Blanchard had two singles with two runs scored and two RBIS.

                DesaRae Woolsey picked up the win in relief of Butterfield. Butterfield started and went 4 1/3 innings in scattering seven hits, five runs, and striking out two. Woolsey tossed 2 2/3 innings with two hits, one run, and two strikeouts.

                The big thing is the team didn't let the emotion of sophomore recognition get to them as the seven graduating sophomores were recognized. The seven are Schweitzer, Blanchard, Hanafin, Klein, Bakel, Parker, Bella Coffman.

                Schweitzer said the day was so surreal for her as her and the other six sophomores got to reflect back.

                "As a graduating sophomore, it almost feels unreal," she said. "These past two years have gone by so fast and I will never forget the memories and the people here. This team is like a family to me, and the memories can't be beat. Especially with the crazy event from freshman year to now. One of the greatest memories that I've made here is last year turning our season around at the Region IX tournament. Everyone underestimated us because we only had nine, but we showed them what Cougar softball is about and as long as we play with confidence and a lot of heart, we were unstoppable.

                "Today was a blast and today will always be a core memory for me. I love these girls so much and I love our coaching staff also love our trainer. Scottsbluff, Nebraska, and WNCC will always be another home to me."

                Blanchard said her time at WNCC has been a wonderful two years.

                "Having the ability to take a step back and take in our last home games was nice," the second baseman said. "We have played our hearts out on this field. We have created bonds like no other on this team. It was a great day to look back on all of the memories that we have created with our teammates over the past 2 years."

Game 1

Luna                      204 000 – 6 10 1

WNCC                   333 032 – 14 14 1

WP – Lexi Parker, S – Lexi Butterfield.

2B – Macyn Hartman, Emma Schweitzer, Chloe Cronquist, Erin Hanafin.

HR – Macyn Hartman, Erin Hanafin, Lexi Butterfield 2.

Game 2

Luna                      101 030 1 – 6 9 4

WNCC                   020 325 x – 12 16 2

WP – DesaRae Woolsey.

2B – Lexi Butterfield.

3B – Emma Schweitzer, Chloe Cronquist, Erin Hanafin.
HR – Lexi Butterfield.