STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community Collee softball dropped a conference doubleheader to Northeastern Junior College on Friday in different style of contests in Sterling, Colorado.
The first game saw the Cougars fall behind early and managed just three hits in falling to the Plainswomen 9-0. The second contest saw WNCC get home runs from Bailey Legere, Mykah Klumpp, and Madi VanRiper but came up short, falling 11-8.
The Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday against Northeastern Junior College at Volunteer Field in a game that was originally slated for Sunday, but was moved because of the forecasted weather conditions. First pitch at the Cougar's home diamond is slated for 1 p.m.
After being shut out in the first game, the Cougars played totally differently in game two, where they outhit NJC 13-10 and blasted four extra-base hits.
The Cougars were led at the plate by Katelyn Czerpak, Jenika Fuentes, and Madi VanRiper each with three hits. Czerpak had three singles with a run scored while Fuentes had three singles with two runs scored and an RBI. VanRiper had a home runs with two runs scored and two RBIs.
NJC took an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the first. WNCC responded with a pair of runs in the second. Fuentes started off the frame with a single and scored on a VanRiper 2-run home run. WNCC got two on after that, but couldn't get another run in.
WNCC did take a 3-2 lead with a single run in the third as Czerpak led off with a single and scored on a 2-out base hit by Fuentes for the lead.
NJC responded in the bottom of the third with five runs to take a 5-3 lead. WNCC didn't fold. Neither team scored in the fourth. It was in the fifth that the Cougars knotted the game at 7-7. It all started when Bailey Legere walked, followed by a home run by Klumpp. WNCC loaded the bases after singles by Fuentes and VanRiper and a walk by Chayse Cronquist. Fuentes scored on a wild pitch, and VanRiper scored on a double by Randi Mitchell for the tie.
NJC answered with four in the bottom of the fifth to go up 11-8. WNCC came right back in the sixth and scored again as Legere had a lead-off home run. In the seventh, WNCC got two on with two outs as Bailie Krueger walked and Czerpak single, but couldn't get the potential tying runs in.
The first game saw NJC score four in the first and two in the second for a 6-0 lead and never looked back.
WNCC managed singles from Czerpak, Klumpp, and Sierra Hilgner in the defeat.
Game 1
WNCC 000 00 – 0 3 0
NJC 423 0x – 9 9 3
LP – Bella Pacheco.
Game 2
WNCC 021 041 0 – 8 13 2
NJC 205 040 x – 11 10 2
LP – Jenika Fuentes.
2B – Randi Mitchell.
HR – Bailey Legere, Mykah Klumpp, Madi VanRiper.