STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball pounded out 10 hits, but couldn't get the big hit in falling to Northeastern Junior College 13-7 in conference action Saturday in Sterling, Colorado.
The Cougars and Plainswomen combined for 23 hits in the contest and the difference in the contest was NJC got the base hit when they needed and the Cougars stranded 10 base runners, including leaving the bases loaded in the third.
Other than that, WNCC's offense had runners on in five of the seven innings. WNCC had 10 hits led by Victoria Wharton, who went 3-for-5 with a triple, two singles, two RBIs, and a run scored. Arianah Plorin and Morgan Dustin each had two hits in the contest, while DemiRae Woolsey had a 2-run home run.
NJC started the game with four in the first with only two of those being earned runs for starting pitcher DesaRae Woolsey.
WNCC cut the lead in half with two in the bottom of the third when Erin Hurst and Wharton had back-to-back singles. Chloe Cronquist then earned a walk to load the bases. Sianna Lewis scored the first run as she earned a walk after being down 0-2 in the count. Dustin then singled in Wharton to make the score 4-2.
NJC came right back with a single run in the fourth and two in the fifth to lead 7-2. WNCC plated a run in the fifth when Lewis was hit by a pitch and scored on a Plorin single.
The Plainswomen added three runs each in the sixth and seventh to lead 13-3. WNCC mounted a comeback in the seventh as Dustin reached on an error. Then, with two outs, DemiRae Woolsey took the first pitch deep over the leftfield fence for a 2-out, 2-run shot. Plorin followed with a single and Hurst reached on an error. Wharton then ripped the ball to leftfield with a triple to score two, but that was all the Cougars could muster.
WNCC and NJC will be back in action on Sunday and Monday with doubleheaders in Sterling, Colorado.
NJC 400 123 3 – 13 13 2
WNCC 002 010 4 – 7 10 6
LP – DesaRae Woolsey.
3B – Victoria Wharton.
HR – DemiRae Woolsey.