The Western Nebraska Community College and Otero College softball teams soaked up the warm weather Thursday at Volunteer Field and it was the Otero bats that were hot as the Rattlers claimed the conference doubleheader.
The first game saw Otero score nine runs in the third and fourth innings and that was the difference as the Rattlers won 13-10.
The second game was a good pitcher's dual as the two teams played strong in the circle and on the defense. In the end, Otero snuck out with the 4-1 win.
The first game was a wild one as Otero scored first with a run in the opening inning. WNCC answered with three in the first to grab a 3-1 lead. WNCC loaded the bases in the first with two outs on walks and hits-batsman. JoLee Huffaker scores all three as the centerfielder let the ball go over head and Huffaker reached third.
Otero came back with three in the third and then six in the fourth to take a 10-3 lead. WNCC sliced the deficit in half with two runs in the fourth. WNCC had a prime opportunity to cut into the lead in the fifth when they loaded the bases with just one out, but couldn't get a clutch hit to score any runs.
Otero scored three insurance runs in the seventh, all with two outs. Those three runs would prove to be the winning runs since the Cougars made a mad dash to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Huffaker started the seventh-inning attack by reaching on an error and scored on an Adi Duke single. WNCC loaded the bases after Randi Mitchell was hit by a pitch and Alyssa Albaugh earned a walk. Tina Norton singles to score pinch-runner Reagan Werth and Mitchell t make it 13-8. Albaugh would come in to score on an error on a throw to make it 13-9. Horton scored the final run on a sacrifice fly by Sierra Hilgner.
Otero outhit WNCC in the game 11-4. WNCC had singles from four players with Horton and Hilgner each getting two RBIs while Mitchell scored two runs.
The second game saw Otero score two in the third and single runs in the fourth and sixth to lead 4-0. WNCC.
WNCC had a chance to score first in the first inning as Mitchell doubled, but the Cougar catcher was left stranded on base. It wasn't until the sixth inning that the Cougars would get another baserunner and that was when they scored to make a comeback.
The sixth saw Horton reach on a 2-out double and scored on an Albaugh single, who beat out an infield single to make it 4-1.
The seventh saw WNCC make a rally as the Cougars had two on at one time, but couldn't get a run in.
WNCC had just four hits in game two with three of the hits being extra base hits. Mitchell, Horton and Huffaker each had a double.
The two teams will wrap up their 4-game series on Friday at Volunteer Field with an 11 a.m. start.
Game 1
Otero 103 600 3 – 13 11 5
WNCC 300 200 5 – 10 4 6
LP – Jenika Fuentes.
Game 2
Otero 002 101 0 – 4 8 1
WNCC 000 001 0 – 1 4 6
LP – Kayli Cooper.
2B – Randi Mitchell, Tina Horton, JoLee Huffaker.