The Western Nebraska Community College softball team received clutch hitting in capturing their 11th straight win with a sweep over Central Community College-Columbus Saturday afternoon at Volunteer Field.
In the opener, WNCC scored six early runs and then let the defense do the rest in claiming the 6-1 win. Kenzie Sawyer and Haille Weber each pounded home runs in game two as the Cougars finished with 13 hits while Whitney Fields and Payten Davies combined on a five-inning 2-hit 15-0 shutout.
WNCC, 37-7, will look to stay on top of the Region IX standings when they host Otero Junior College in key conference games Sunday beginning at noon. The two Region IX powers split a four game series in La Junta, Colorado, earlier in the season.
Courtney Medina, who scored four runs in Saturday's doubleheader, said the wins were big.
"Otero is a big competitor for us with them being region games," Medina said. "I think it is a big deal to come out on fire like we did the second game. If we can do that I think we will be just fine. Everything has to come together with hitting and fielding."
Saturday things did come together in their doubleheader with Central-Columbus.
"We came out really well. We executed when we needed to," the sophomore from Denver said. "We pitched well. We had good defensive plays, and we hit really well. So it all came together for us."
After the Cougars won the first game 6-1, things really ballooned in the second game.
"The second game was definitely a lot better for us," Medina said. "We really buckled down and did a lot better the second game than we did the first. The first game we did alright but the second game we came out. We got our jobs done early and everybody did their part."
WNCC scored all the runs they needed in the first game early, scoring three in the first and third. WNCC's three runs in the first game on four singles. Lauren Oxford and Christian Bobian each had a run-scoring single in the frame.
The Cougars three third-inning runs came with four hits. Kenzie Sawyer had a big double followed by run-scoring singles by Oxford and Jade Morton.
WNCC outhit Central 9-6. Medina, Sawyer, and Oxford each collected two hits in the win. Medina had a double, a run scored and a stolen base, while Sawyer had a double with two runs scored. Oxford had two RBIs with a run scored.
Central was led by Jayd Robert with three doubles in her 3-for-3 plate appearance.
Andy Hancock went the distance to get the win in the circle. Hancock scattered six hits while striking out four.
WNCC started early in the second game as well, scoring twice in the first before opening up the game with six in the second and seven in the third.
The big hits in the first included run-scoring doubles from Weber and Sawyer for the 2-0 lead. The six-run second saw WNCC score all six runs with two outs on six hits. Medina slapped a run-scoring double to get things started followed by Sawyer ripping a 2-run homer to centerfield. Davies finished off the scoring with a run-scoring single.
The third inning scoring started as Weber blasted a 3-run dinger to rightfield followed by a run-scoring single by Oxford.
WNCC pounded out 13 hits including four doubles and two home runs. Oxford paced the team with a 3-for-4 game with a double, RBI, and run scored. Medina, Bobian, Weber and Sawyer each had two hits. Weber had a double, home run, four RBIs and three runs scored, while Sawyer had a double, home run, three RBIs, and a run scored.
Medina finished with a double, three runs scored, RBI, and two stolen bases. Bobian had two singles with two RBIs and two runs scored.
Fields went three strong innings, striking out five with two hits. Davies tossed two innings in striking out two.
First Game
Central 000 001 0 – 1 6 1
WNCC 303 000 x – 6 9 1
WP – Andy Hancock; 2B – Courtney Medina, Kenzie Sawyer.
Second Game
Central 000 00 – 0 2 2
WNCC (37-7) 267 0x – 15 13 0
WP – Whitney Fields; 2B – Courtney Medina, Kenzie Sawyer, Haille Weber, Lauren Oxford; HR – Kenzie Sawyer, Haille Weber.