The Western Nebraska Community College softball team made their home opener a successful one with clutch hits in posting the doubleheader sweep over Lamar Community College in Region IX conference action Sunday at Volunteer Field.

                The first game saw the Cougars score 12 runs in the first inning on their way to the 12-6 win.

                The second contest was a little tighter as WNCC held an 11-8 lead heading into the sixth. It was the sixth when Sianna Lewis had her first career grand slam to end the game on the run-rule and the 19-8 win.

                Caley Leslie said they played well in their first home games of the year to get the two wins.

                "It felt so good to finally play at home. It was awesome to see so many fans there as well as future recruits," Leslie, who was the second-game winning pitcher, said. "There is just something special about playing in front of a great crowd."

                The key for the Cougars was staying alive at the plate with two outs.

                "We were able to string hits together really well and we were able to rally hits together especially with two outs," Leslie said. "We didn't leave many people stranded on base."

                The offense was there as well with WNCC combining for 38 runs and 31 hits in the two games.

                "The offense was god today," Leslie said. "We were able to see the ball and hit the ball really well. We were able to work well as a team and by getting on base for the person behind us. And Sianna coming in clutch with the grand slam."

                The first game saw all nine batters get at least one hit. Arianah Plorin led the way with a 3-for-3 day with a double, two runs scored, and an RBI. Devyn Priselac, DemiRae Woolsey, Baylie Krueger, and Erin Hurst all had two hits. Hurst had a double with two runs scored, and an RBI; Priselac had three runs scored and three RBIs; and Krueger had three RBIs.

                WNCC started early with 12 runs in the first inning as they had nine hits. WNCC sent 18 batters to the plate in the first inning.

                Lamar came back with two in the second, but the Cougars added three in the second on just one hits for a 15-2 lead.

                Lamar made it closer when they scored four in the third to make it 15-6. WNCC answered with four runs themselves in the third with three singles for the 19-6 lead.

                Lamar added one more in the fourth, but that was all the scoring in the game.

                DesaRae Woolsey picked up the pitching win in allowing seven runs, 10 hits, and striking out four.

                The second game saw Lamar go up 1-0 before WNCC answered with eight runs in the bottom of the first with a run to tie the game. The Cougars went up 8-1 with seven runs in the second including a 2-run double by Victoria Wharton and a 2-run triple by Avery Fox.

                Lamar sliced the Cougar lead in half with three in the third and then made it 8-5 with a run in the fourth. WNCC answered with three in the bottom of the fourth Morgan Dustin and DemiRae Woolsey each had run-scoring doubles to make it 11-5.

                Lamar answered with three in the fifth get closer at 11-8. WNCC put the game away in the bottom of the eight runs with Lewis grand slam ending the contest.

                Lewis and Wharton each went 4-for-5. Wharton had a double with three runs scored and four RBIs, while Lewis had a double, home run, three runs scored, and four RBIs.

                Priselac and Fox each had two hits. Fox had three runs scored with three RBIs while Priselac had two runs scored with an RBI.

                Leslie picked up the win, going six innings in allowing eight runs and nine hits while striking out two.

                WNCC, who moves to 5-0 in the conference, will be back in action Friday through Sunday when they travel to Trinidad State College in Trinidad, Colorado, for a 5-game series.

                Leslie said it is important for them to stay hot offensively and continue playing tough defense.

                "We need to keep the bats hot and continue to work well as a team with passing the bat," she said. "We need more confidence in the defense and knowing that we can make the tougher plays."

Game 1

Lamar                    024 01 – 7 10 0

WNCC                   (12)34 0x – 19 15 0

WP – DesaRae Woolsey.

2B – Arianah Plorin, Erin Hurst.

Game 2

Lamar                    103 130 – 8 9 1

WNCC                   170 308 -- 19 16 6

WP – Caley Leslie.

2B -- Victoria Wharton, Avery Fox, Morgan Dustin, Sianna Lewis, DemiRae Woolsey.

3B – Avery Fox,

HR – Sianna Lewis.