LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team opened Region IX play in dropping a doubleheader to Otero College Saturday in LaJunta, Colorado.

                The first game saw WNCC give up four first-inning runs and Otero went on to the 12-2 win. The second game saw WNCC jump to an 8-0 lead in the first inning before falling 15-11.

                WNCC and Otero will have another doubleheader on Sunday in LaJunta, Colorado. The Cougars will then return home for a 4-game series as they host Dawson Community College Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3.

                The second game saw the Cougars get eight hits and while scoring 11 runs in the contest.

                The first inning saw the first two batters earn walks before Bailey Legere singled home Katelyn Czerpak with the first run. WNCC led 5-0 when Mykah Klumpp and Reagan Werth had back-to-back singles. Werth's single scored a run to make it 5-0. Baylee Krueger added two more runs with a 2-out double for the 8-0 lead.

                Otero cut the lead in half with four in the bottom of the fourth to trail 8-4. WNCC came right back with two runs in the second for a 10-4 lead. The big hit in the inning came from Klumpp with a fly ball that was misplayed and two runners scored.

                Otero came back with seven in the bottom of the second to take an 11-10 lead.

                Both teams added a run in the fourth. WNCC's came as Randi Mitchell singled and scored on a Fuentes double to tie the game.

                Otero scored one in the fourth, two in the fifth, and another run in the sixth to take the 15-11 lead.

                WNCC was led at the plate by Krueger and Jenika Fuentes each with a double. Krueger had three RBIs in the game.

                The first game saw Otero score four in the first to grab a 4-0 lead. WNCC got on the scoreboard with a run in the third and fourth to cut the deficit in half. The third saw Madi VanRiper get hit by a pitch to start the frame. WNCC loaded the bases on a single by Czerpak and a walk by Krueger. VanRiper scored on a fielder's choice hit by Klumpp.

                The fourth Mitchell single and score on a Bailey Legere double. After that, Otero added two in the bottom of the fourth and six in the fifth to end the game.

Game 1
WNCC                 001 10 – 2 3 3
Otero                    400 26 – 12 10 1
LP – Jenika Fuentes.
2B – Bailey Legere.

Game 2
WNCC                 820 100 0 – 11 8 5
Otero                    470 121 x – 15 12 4
LP – Kayli Cooper.
2B – Baylee Krueger, Jenika Fuentes.