LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College had a strong offensive showing in scoring 26 runs and Avery Fox tied a school record for most runs scored in a game with six as the Cougars captured a 26-6 Region IX conference win over Lamar Community College Sunday afternoon in Lamar, Colorado.
The win moves the Cougars to 3-10 on the season but more importantly, to 3-0 in conference play. WNCC will take their 3-game winning streak and their offensive attack that saw the team score 52 runs in the three wins over Lamar into Tuesday as the Cougars begin their Spring Break trip in Texas when they face Louisiana State University Eunice and Trinity Valley Community College.
Fox said the offensive output was due to the team staying disciplined at the plate.
"We had to stay disciplined at the plate," Fox said. "A week ago, all of us were struggling to take pitches both balls and getting hit. This weekend at the plate, we had many walks with full counts or getting hit by the pitch."
Fox went 2-for-3 on the day with a double and tied a school record by scoring six runs in the contest, tying the record set by Jacqui Cappuccilli back in 2011. Erin Hurst was right behind Fox on the day with four runs scored with just one hit and one official at bat. Hurst was walked three times.
While Fox had a record-tying day, Morgan Dustin led the way at the plate with a 3-for-3 performance with two RBIs and two runs scored. DemiRae Woolsey also had one hit with four RBIs to lead the team in that category.
Fox and Arianah Plorin each had three RBIs. Plorin had a double along with scoring three runs with three RBIs. Devlyn Priselac also scored three runs with two RBIs and a hit, while Victoria Wharton had one hit with four runs scored and two RBIs.
Dustin, who had the big day on Sunday, said the team played well besides a few hiccups.
"Today we all played together as a team and really owned our roles, especially with offense," Dustin said. "We all played with a lot of heart this weekend. We really focused on doing the little things right."
Fox agreed saying that when they started to have trouble, they regrouped and got the job done.
"The team played great today," the Scottsbluff graduate said. "We had a few moments where we had to take time and reset. After we reset, we made the outs and played to finish the innings."
The 26 runs is tied for third for most runs scored by a Cougar team. The record is 29 runs and the last time the Cougars scored 26 runs was a year ago, on March 3 when they plated 26 runs against Luna Community College.
WNCC scored in all five innings that were played, plating a run in the first inning as Fox scored on a free pass from Woolsey, who was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded for the 1-0 lead.
The Cougars added three runs in the second for a 4-0 lead. Plorin and Hurst led off with walks. Plorin scored on a groundout and then Hurst came in on a wild pitch. Fox would later score on a single.
Lamar came right back in the bottom of the second with three runs to make it 4-3. WNCC pushed the score to 10-3 with six runs in the third and four more in the fourth for a 14-3 lead.
WNCC scored all their runs in the third with two outs. Hurst led off with a 2-out single and scored on a Wharton hit as Wharton reached on the error. Priselac then walked. Wharton scored on a wild pitch and Priselac scored on a Fox single. With the bases juiced, Woolsey singled in two runs to make it 9-3 and Sianna Lewis scored the final run of the frame.
The fourth inning saw WNCC score four runs on just one hit, a 2-run double by Dustin.
WNCC added 12 runs in the fifth inning as they batted through the lineup twice to lead 26-3. WNCC was patient at the plate as they started the inning with three straight walks. Fox then had a 2-run double. Later, Plorin scored two with a 2-out double for a 20-3 lead. Wharton, Priselac and Dustin each followed with run-scoring singles. Fox closed out the scoring as she scored for the sixth time after a pitch hit Woolsey for the 26-3 lead.
Lamar scored three times in the but it wasn't enough.
WNCC will carry that momentum into this week when they have six games in Texas.
"I think this has given us a lot of confidence going into Texas and we need to transfer it to those upcoming games," Dustin said. "I think staying within ourselves is going to be key."
Fox said the key to get wins in Texas against Trinity Valley, who is 14-14 overall, and Louisiana State-Eunice, who is 23-9 on the season is staying disciplined.
"Heading to Texas for spring break, we will be disciplined at the plate, continue to go all out for plays and know that we can do anything as long as we have attitude, effort, and energy," she said. "This is a great start to go into our spring break."
WNCC 136 4(12) – 26 12 1
Lamar 030 03 – 6 8 3
WP – Caley Leslie.
2B – Avery Fox, Morgan Dustin, Arianah Plorin.