GREAT BEND, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team had a strong showing on Sunday against Barton Community College but still fell twice to the Cougars from Kansas in Great Bend, Kansas.

                The first game was a battle as the Cougars led Barton 2-1 before falling 4-3. The second was close at the start, but the Barton Cougars scored late runs to capture the 11-1 win.

                The first contest was tight as WNCC tried a seventh-inning comeback that came up short. Barton took a 1-0 lead in the first only to watch the Cougars score two in the third to lead 2-1.

                The third saw Joseph Toubeaux started things with a single. Eli Hernandez then walked to put two on. Shintaro Inoue then singled in one run to tie the game and Hernandez later scored on an error for the 2-1 lead.

                Barton added one in the fifth and two in the sixth to go up 4-2. WNCC had one final at bat and they tried a comeback. Jacob Jackson started things with a single followed by Isaac Smith earning a walk. Smith scored on an error to make it 4-3 with just one out. WNCC had runners on the corners but couldn’t get the tying or go-ahead run in.

                WNCC finished with five hits in the contest. Peterson had the only extra base hit with a double.

                Clayden Brandon went five strong innings in allowing six hits, two runs and walking two. Archer Blumenshein took the loss in his one inning of work, allowing two hits, two runs and striking out two.

                The second game was close at the start. Barton took a 1-0 lead in the first only to watch the Cougars tie the game at 1-1 with a run in the second. Bryce Peterson started things with a single followed by Hunter McCollum getting plunked by a pitch. Peterson came around to score on a fielder’s choice hit to tie the game.

                That was all the runs WNCC would manage as Barton plated two in the second, three in the fourth for a 6-1 lead and went on to win 11-1 in eight innings.

                WNCC finished with just four hits in the contest, all singles. Barton had 12 hits with four extra base hits.

                WNCC utilized five pitchers in the contest with starter Eli Hernandez taking the loss after 3 2/3 innings of work in allowing four hits, six runs, and striking out three. Also seeing action on the mound included Valentin Blanc, Thibault Mercadier, Firmin Hassed, and Bryce Peterson.

                WNCC is slated to be back in action this weekend when they are scheduled to host Miles Community College on Saturday and Sunday. Those games are pending due to weather. Stayed tuned to the WNCC athletic webpage at www.wnccathletics.com and the WNCC athletic Facebook page for details on the this weekend’s contests.

Game 1
WNCC                   002 000 1 – 3 5 1

Barton                  100 012 x – 4 8 2

LP – Archer Blumenshein.

2B – Bryce Peterson.

Game 2
WNCC                   010 000 00 – 1 4 2

Barton                  120 302 21 – 11 12 0

LP – Eli Hernandez.

WNCC softball falls twice to Odessa

                ODESSA, Texas – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team competed well against pre-season No. 3-ranked Odessa College on Saturday before falling twice on Sunday in Odessa, Texas.

                The first game saw Odessa grab a 4-0 lead before WNCC came back to slice come within 6-4 before falling 12-4.

                The second game saw Cougar pitchers Avery Fox and Caley Leslie combine on a one-hitter, but the Cougars managed just two hits themselves as Odessa earned the 3-0 win.

                The second game was a pitcher’s dual as the teams had just three combined hits. WNCC’s lone hits were singles by Victoria Wharton and DemiRae Woolsey, while Odessa’s lone hit was a 2-run home run in the third inning for the 2-0 lead.

                Otherwise, the defenses and pitchers controlled things. Fox went the first four innings for the Cougars in facing 14 batters in allowing one hit and striking out one with one walk. Leslie tossed the final two innings in not allowing a hit and striking out two while giving up just one run.

                Odessa’s pitcher Emily Brouse allowed just two hits, walking two, and striking out 13.

                Trailing 2-0, WNCC got their first hit in the top of fourth on a Wharton single. It wasn’t until the sixth that the Cougars made a run to plate some runs. Baylie Krueger led off by reaching on an error. With two outs, Chloe Cronquist earned a walk and then DemiRae Woolsey recorded a single to load the bases. But WNCC couldn’t get a run in.

                The first game between the two teams saw Odessa score three times in the first and one in the third to go up 4-0. WNCC added a single run in the fourth as Gox scored with Krueger getting the RBI make it 4-1.

                Odessa added two more in the fourth for a 6-1 lead. WNCC made a huge comeback in the fifth as Cronquist and Sianna Lewis reached base and then Fox slammed a 3-run home run, her first of the season, to make it 6-4. Odessa added three more runs in the fifth and sixth for the 12-4 final.

                Fox led the team with a 1-for-1 offensive attack with a home run and two runs scored and three RBIs. Cronquist also had two hits with a run scored.

Game 1

WNCC                   000 130 – 4 6 0
Odessa                 301 233 – 12 15 0
LP – DesaRae Woolsey.

2B – Chloe Cronquist, Sianna Lewis.
HR – Avery Fox.

Game 2
WNCC                   000 000 0 – 0 2 2
Odessa                 002 001 x – 3 1 1
LP – Avery Fox.