BROWNWOOD, Texas – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team opened its season over the weekend in going 1-3 in a classic in Brownwood, Texas.

                On Friday, the Cougars dropped a 10-1 contest to Cisco College and then a 16-3 contest to Navarro College. Saturday saw WNCC split it's two games. WNCC fell 10-3 to Midland College before wrapping up the classic with a 6-5 win over Western Texas College.

                The win over Western Texas was a big come-from-behind contest. WNCC started off in the first as Jenika Fuentes had a 2-out triple followed by Mykah Klumpp walking, but the two were left stranded. WNCC's defense came up big in the bottom of the first as Western Texas loaded the bases with two outs, but the Cougars didn't allow a run.

                The second inning saw WNCC plate two runs. Madi VanRiper started things with a double followed by a single by Devyn Priselac. Bailey Legere scored both runners with a double for the 2-0 lead.

                WNCC went up 3-0 with a run in the third as Fuentes singled and scored on a Klumpp double. Western Texas came back with two in the bottom of the frame to make it 3-2.

                Western Texas went up 5-3 with three runs in the fourth. Neither team scored in the fifth. It was the sixth that saw WNCC knot the score at 5-5 when Fuentes rocketed a home run to score Katelynn Czerpak. WNCC loaded the bases after the home run, but couldn't get another run in.

                The seventh saw WNCC load the bases as Legere and Czerpak each singled and Fuentes earned a 8-pitch walk to load the bases. With two outs, Chayse Cronquist was patient at the plate and earned a walk to score Legere with the go-ahead run.

                Western Texas had a chance to tie or go-ahead in the bottom of the seventh as they had back-to-back singles with one out. WNCC pitcher Fuentes got the next two batters to fly out to right-fielder Priselac to end the game.

                Fuentes went all seven innings in allowing 11 hits and just five runs with no earned runs. She also struck out two.

                WNCC finished with 13 hits in the contest led by Fuentes, who came within a double of hitting for the cycle with three hits with two RBIs, two runs scored, and walking twice. Klumpp also had three hits while Czerpak and Legere each had two hits. Legere had two RBIs.

                WNCC will be back in action this weekend when they travel to face Otero College in LaJunta, Colorado, for four games on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday's Games
Game 1
WNCC                   010 00 – 1 3 3
Cisco                      105 4x – 10 6 3
LP – Jenika Fuentes.
2B – Bailey Legere.

Game 2
Navarro                711 52 – 16 18 2
WNCC                   200 01 – 3 4 0
LP – Kayli Cooper.
2B – Mykah Klumpp. 

Saturday's Games
Game 1
Midland               203 410 0 – 10 9 2
WNCC                   101 100 0 – 3 4 3
LP – Kayli Cooper.
2B – Kayli Cooper.

Game 2
WNCC                   021 002 1 – 6 13 4
W. Texas               002 300 0 – 5 14 0
WP – Jenika Fuentes.
2B – Mykah Klumpp, Madi VanRiper, Bailey Legere.
3B – Jenika Fuentes.

HR – Jenika Fuentes.