YUMA, Arizona – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team battled Arizona Western before falling in a doubleheader 7-1 and 8-7.
The first game saw the Cougars score first before Arizona Western plated seven runs to get the 7-1 win. The second game was a lot closer as WNCC was up early before allowing five late runs in the 8-7 game.
The second game was one where the Cougars should have won in a game that was a battle with both teams battling back and forth.
WNCC opened the second game with three runs. Sierra Hilgner led off with a walk followed by Tina Horton getting hit by a pitch. Faythe Lafirenza loaded the bases as she reached on a fielder's error. After Hilgner scored on a pitch, Lydia Tibbals singled to score two runs for the 3-0 lead.
WNCC couldn't hold the lead as Arizona Western scored three times all with two outs to tie the game at 3-3.
WNCC went in front 4-3 with a run in the third and then led 6-3 with two in the fifth. The third inning saw JoLee Huffaker and Viktoria Sarkanyova earn walks. Kay'Leigh Blair followed with a single to load the bases. Kallie Stocking singled one run in for the 4-3 lead.
Huffaker started the fifth with a single and scored on a Sarkanyova double. Sarkanyova came in to score on a ground out for the 6-3 lead.
Arizona Western responded with four in the fifth with all runs coming with two outs for the 7-6 lead. Arizona Western added a single run in the sixth to lead 8-6. WNCC put together a seventh-inning rally. Tibbals started things with a single. Blair then reached after getting hit by a pitch. Kayli Cooper scored Tibbals with a single but WNCC left the tying run on third.
WNCC was led at the plate from Tibbals with two singled with two RBIs and a run scored. Sarkanyova had the only extra base hit with a double.
WNCC used three pitchers. Kallie Stocking started and went 4.2 innings in allowing three hits, five runs and striking out two. Jenika Fuentes went a third of an inning allowing four hits and two runs. Cooper went one inning in giving up two hits and a run with a strikeout.
The first game was a battle with the difference being Arizona Western scoring five, fourth-inning runs. Other than that, the game was a well-played.
WNCC scored first in the third when Tori Travers led off with a double and scored on a Ellie Soper ground out. WNCC couldn't hold the lead as Arizona Western knotted the score with a run in the third and then plated five in the fifth for the 6-1 lead.
WNCC finished with seven hits in the opener. Horton and Huffaker led the way with two hits each, while Travers had the only run of the game.
WNCC will continue the Arizona trip with a pair of games on Tuesday when they face Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona.
Game 1
WNCC 001 000 0 – 1 7 6
Arizona Western 001 501 x – 7 8 0
LP – Kayli Cooper.
2B – Tori Travers.
Game 2
WNCC 301 020 1 – 7 7 0
Arizona Western 300 041 x – 8 9 2
LP – Jenika Fuentes.
2B – Viktoria Sarkanyova.