WNCC softball team falls to McCook in home opener

Posted: Apr 25, 2021

The Western Nebraska Community College softball team dropped a doubleheader to McCook Community College on Saturday in the Cougar's first home games of the season.

The Cougars fell 20-5 in the first game as the Cougars had five hits, four of which were extra base hits, compared to 21 hits for McCook, including three home runs and eight RBIs by Taryn Jenkins.

The second game was much better for the Cougars as they stayed competitive with the Indians before falling 15-7 as Bella Coffman had a home run in the contest that cleared both outfield fences.

The first game saw McCook score two in the first to watch WNCC come back to cut the deficit in half with a run. Mackenzie Bakel started things being hit by a pitch. Coffman than singled. Bakel scores on a throwing error by the catcher.

McCook added six in the second for an 8-1 lead. WNCC answered with two in the bottom of the frame to cut the lead to 8-3. Briana Henson was hit by a pitch and then Chaydon Chong earned a walk. Emma Schweitzer then double down the rightfield line to score both runs.

McCook put the game away after that, scoring twice in the third and then eight in the fourth for a 18-3 lead. The Indians added two more in the fifth to lead 20-3. WNCC came back with two in the fifth as Bakel led off with a double and then Lexi Butterfield delivered a 2-run home run.

Coffman led the Cougars with two hits, including a triple. Butterfield had a home run with two RBIs. Bakel scored two runs in the game.

The second game was a lot better for WNCC even though they lost. The Cougars limited the home run balls and they almost outhit McCook. The Indians had 13 hits to WNCC's 11.

Schweitzer led the Cougars at the plate with three hits including a double with two RBIs and two runs scored. Chong, Coffman, and Bakel all had two hits as well. Coffman had a big home run that sailed over the second outfield fence.

Erin Hanafin had one hit with three RBIs, while Chong added two runs scored with her two hits.

Both teams scored one run in the first inning. The Cougars run came as Schweitzer and Bakel each singled followed by Coffman earning a walk to load the bases. Hanafin then drew a walk to force in the first run of the game.

Neither team scored in the second inning. It was the third inning that saw McCook score nine runs to lead 10-1. WNCC wasn't about to quit. The Cougars scored on in the third on Coffman's monster home run. The fourth inning, after McCook went up 11-2, the Cougars came back with four runs to make a game of it once again.

Chong led off with single and then Chloe Cronquist laid down a bunt and reached base. Schweitzer followed with a run-scoring single that also scored Cronquist on an error. Bakel then singled to put two on. With two outs, Hanafin singles to score two runs to cut the lead to 11-6.

McCook scored twice in the fifth to make it 13-6, but WNCC answered with one run in the bottom of the frame. Schweitzer blasted a 2-out double to score Chong with the run.

McCook added two more runs in the sixth and WNCC had a chance to extend the game, but couldn't get the run home as McCook ended the game on the 8-run rule.

WNCC and McCook will be back in action Sunday for another doubleheader at Volunteer Field starting at 11 a.m.

Game 1

McCook 262 82 – 20 21 2

WNCC 120 02 – 5 5 1

LP – Lexi Butterfield

2B – Mackenzie Bakel, Emma Schweitzer.

3B – Bella Coffman.

HR – Lexi Butterfield.

Game 2

McCook 109 122 – 15 13 4

WNCC 101 410 – 7 11 1

LP – Lexi Butterfield.