It was a record-setting day for the Western Nebraska Community College softball team as they picked up a pair of non-conference wins over Ft. Hays Tech Northwest on Monday.
The first game saw Kayli Cooper toss a 2-hitter and the Cougars earned the 8-0 win in just five innings on a walk-off 2-run single by Mykah Klumpp.
The second game saw the Cougars break the school record for runs in a game when they Cougars won 40-4 in a five-inning contest. The previous record was 32 runs that was scored against McCook a few years ago.
WNCC pounded out 41 hits in the contest with doubles from Randi Mitchell, Jenika Fuentes, and Sierra Hilgner. Mitchell also had a triple, while Klumpp had a first-inning 3-run home run.
The 40 runs came as the Cougars scored double-digit runs in the first three innings, plating 11 runs in the first, 10 in the second, 14 in the third, and five in the fourth.
WNCC had nine players finish with three hits in the contest and another six get at least two hits.
Klump led the way with a 3-for-3 game with a home run, three runs scored and five RBIs, while Fuentez was 3-for-5 with a double, four RBIs, and six runs scored. Mitchell went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs and missed hitting for the cycle by a single.
Also, Kallie Stocking went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBIs, while Hilgner, JoLee Huffaker each went 3-for-3. Ellie Soper went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs, while Viktoria Sarkanyova went 3-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI.
WNCC scored seven runs in the first inning before making an out. The big hit in the frame was a Klumpp 2-out, 3-run home run to rightfield for the 11-0 lead.
WNCC made it 21-0 after two innings. WNCC scored seven straight runs before making their first out and capped off as Klumpp singled to score Tori Travers.
Ft. Hays Tech Northwest plated two runs in the third on two hits to make it 21-3. WNCC answered with a 14-spot in the third inning as the Cougars scored 14 times, but were only going one base at a time to lead 35-3 after three.
The fourth only saw WNCC score five times for a 40-3 lead.
Stocking picked up the win with three innings of work while allowing three hits and three runs and striking out five. Fuentes and Lydia Tibbals finished off the game with one inning of pitching work.
The first game saw a nice pitching performance from Cooper as the sophomore from Canada allowed just two hits with five strikeouts.
WNCC plated four runs in the first on just four hits. WNCC added two more in the third when Tibbals tripled to lead off and scored on a Stocking double. Two batters later, Faythe Lafirenza singled to make it 6-0.
WNCC ended the game in the fifth via the 8-run rule when Viktoria Sarkanyova and Ellie Soper led off with a single. Reagan Werth then sacrificed the runners to scoring position and Klumpp had a single to rightfield to score the two runs to end the game.
Tibbals led the team at the plate with three hits including a triple and two runs scored. Lafirenza and Adi Duke each had two hits in the first game. Duke had two RBIs.
WNCC will be back in action Tuesday when they host Lamar Community College in a conference doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. at Volunteer Field. The Cougars will then have a conference doubleheader on Friday, which is the last home game for a couple weeks when they wrap up the regular season April 27 at home against McCook Community College.
Game 1
Ft. Hays Tech NW 000 00 – 0 2 6
WNCC 402 02 – 8 12 2
WP – Kayli Cooper.
2B – Kallie Stocking.
3B – Lydia Tibbals.
Game 2
Ft. Hays Tech NW 003 01 – 4 5 7
WNCC (11)(10)(14) 5x – 40 41 0
WP – Kallie Stocking.
2B – Randi Mitchell, Jenika Fuentes, Sierra Hilgner.
3B – Randi Mitchell.
HR – Mykah Klumpp.