The Western Nebraska Community College softball team put together two team wins as the Cougars took a conference doubleheader from reigning Region IX champions Northeastern Junior College Tuesday at Volunteer Field.
The first game saw the Cougars jump out to a quick 8-1 lead and plating a run in five of the six innings to edge NJV 12-11 in a game that saw the teams combine for 31 hits. The second game saw NJC jump out to a 6-0 lead before the Cougars rallied with a 4-run sixth inning that saw Randi Mitchell hit the only home run on the day between the two teams as WNCC won 8-7.
WNCC goes to 5-11 in conference play while NJC drops to 10-6. WNCC will have four important conference games this weekend at home when Luna Community College comes to Volunteer Field. Luna is 4-12 in conference play.
Mitchell, who had the second-game tying home run, said the team played together and knew what was on the line.
"These wins were super big," Mitchell said. "We have been struggling this season and today having these wins against the reigning Region IX champs was something we needed as a team to continue our season."
Tuesday's wins were huge after the team fell to NJC on Friday in Sterling, Colorado, 9-0 and 11-8. Tuesday, it was a totally different Cougar team on the field for the two games.
"We are a team that sometimes we get down but always by the end of the game we fight; we just don't roll over. We have too much in us and we work too hard to do that," Mitchell said.
These wins were huge as they are still in the hunt for a Region IX tournament spot, but they have to keep winning.
"We have to win, if we want a shot at being Region IX champs," the freshman from Greeley, Colorado, said. "Beating them was huge so if we can beat them, we can beat any team and the team this weekend. We need to go out strong and play like we did today."
WNCC came ready to play on the day as they started strong in game one, scoring in five of the six innings. NJC went up 1-0 in the first, but the Cougars came out of the gate by scoring six runs in the first inning and then added two more in the second for an 8-1 lead.
The Cougars got things started in the first when they loaded the bases. Bailey Legere scored the first run with a run-scoring single. Mykah Klumpp followed with a 2-run double to make it 3-1. WNCC wasn't finished as with two outs, Mitchell scores two on a ball that was misplayed in the outfield. Devyn Priselac then followed with a run-scoring single to make it 6-1.
WNCC added two in the second when Jenika Fuentes singled followed by a Legere double. Klumpp scored one with a single and then Madi VanRiper plated another to make it 8-1.
NJC came back in the third with five runs to make it an 8-6 contest. WNCC avoided any more damage as they turned an inning-ending double play to stop the Plainswomen's comeback
In the meantime, the Cougars got two back in the bottom of the third. Katelyn Czerpak earned a walk and then scored on a 2-out hit by Fuentes. Klumpp then scored Fuentes with a double for the 10-6 lead.
NJC game back with two runs in the fourth and fifth to tie the game at 10-10. WNCC responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth when Sierra Hilgner doubled and scored on a Legere double.
The Cougars added an insurance run in the sixth when Baylie Krueger reached on an error and scored with a 2-out single by Czerpak to make it 12-10.
NJC had something going in the seventh all with two outs. The Plainswomen had the tying run at third when WNCC pitcher Kayli Cooper got the next batter to groundout to her as she made the easy toss to first-baseman Chayse Cronquist to get the win.
WNCC was outhit in the contest 17-14, but the Cougars scored runs when they needed in the first-game win. Legere led the way at the plate with a 4-for-4 game with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
Klumpp went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two doubles, while Katelyn Czerpak had two singles with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
Bella Pacheco started and went three innings before giving way to Kayli Cooper, who finished the game in going four innings. Cooper picked up the win in scattering nine hits in four innings of work while allowing four runs and striking out one. Pacheco went three innings in fiving up eight hits and seven runs with one strikeout.
The second game saw the Cougars start slow as NJC scored two in the second and four in the fourth for a 6-0 lead. After three innings of not scoring for the Cougars, the offense came alive as WNCC plated three in the fourth to trail 6-3.
The fourth inning offense started when Fuentes singled. Legere followed with a walk and then Klumpp singled to load the bases. Chayse Cronquist then came up big with a 2-run single to get the Cougars on the board. WNCC added another run as Krueger had a sacrifice fly to make it 6-3.
WNCC got closer in the fifth with a run when Hilgner reached on an error and scored on a 2-out double by Klumpp.
The sixth saw WNCC go on top in dramatic fashion by sending eight to the plate. Krueger started things with single and then Mitchell tied the game with a 2-run home run to left field. Czerpak then singled followed by a Hilgner double. Fuentez scored Czerpak with a double and then Hilgner scored on a sacrifice fly for the 8-6 lead.
NJC tried to make a comeback in the seventh as they got the lead-off batter on base, and she later scored on a sacrifice fly. Fuentes then got the final out by inducing a groundball to Krueger at second base who easily threw to first for the final out.
WNCC outhit NJC 11-9 as the Cougars had five extra-base hits. Fuentes, Klumpp, and Cronquist all had two hits in the contest including a double. Cronquist had two RBIs while Fuentes scored two runs. Mitchell scored two runs with her home run.
Fuentes got the win in the circle with a complete-game performance. The freshman hurler from Sweetwater, Texas, scattered nine hits and allowed seven runs in seven innings of work. She struck out three and walked just two.
Game 1
NJC 105 220 1 – 11 17 4
WNCC 622 011 x – 12 14 3
WP – Kayli Cooper.
2B – Bailey Legere 2, Mykah Klumpp 2, Sierra Hilgner.
Game 2
NJC 020 400 1 – 7 9 2
WNCC 000 314 x – 8 11 2
WP – Jenika Fuentes.
2B – Chayse Cronquist, Jenika Fuentes, Mykah Klumpp.
HR – Randi Mitchell.