2025-26 WNCC Cougar Softball News

  • WNCC softball season ends after falling twice on Friday at regionals
    May 08, 2026
    MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College softball season came to an end after dropping two contests on Friday at the Region IX tournament in McCook, but it wasn’t without some gutsy play on the day. The Cougars took top-seeded McCook Community College to the limit in the first game on the day in the winner’s bracket and came so close in topping the team that went 30-2 in conference play before falling 4-3 on a seventh-inning play at the plate that resulted in the Indians getting the walk-off win. The second game, an elimination game with Luna Community College, saw the Cougars fall 14-6. WNCC ends the season at 25-26 under first-year head coach Nayeli Diaz. The Cougars also had two all-region players that were announced in between games on Friday. Tori Travers was named an honorable mention all-region player, while Jasmine Castro was a first-team all-region outfield selection. Travers showed why she was an all-region selection as the sophomore had two home runs on the day with five RBIs. Travers had the big hit in the McCook game, but both games were classic WNCC games that fans have witnessed over the past month, which saw the Cougars win 10 straight games before falling today.
  • WNCC scores five in seventh to down Luna at regionals
    May 07, 2026
    MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team scored five runs in its last at-bat to down Luna Community College 10-9 at the Region IX tournament in McCook on Thursday. It was the Cougars’ second straight last-inning comeback as WNCC scored five runs in the final at-bat against North Platte Community College on Sunday. The win moves WNCC into a winner’s bracket contest against top-seeded McCook Community College at 1 p.m. MDT on Friday. Tori Travers, who had the walk-off ground ball to score the two game-winning runs, said it was a big win.
  • WNCC softball enters regionals as fourth seed, will play Luna Thursday
    May 06, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team finished off the regular season on a nine-game win streak and evened their record at 24-24. Now, the Cougars will head to the Region IX Tournament in McCook, Nebraska, to go for a regional title and a national tournament berth. The fourth-seeded WNCC team will open the tournament Thursday at 11 a.m. when they face fifth-seeded Luna Community College. WNCC and Luna split a four-game series in March at Volunteer Field. WNCC lost both games on the first day 11-8 and 17-7, but won both games on day two 7-4 and 17-4. The double-elimination tournament runs through Sunday with the championship and if-necessary games with the winner qualifying for the NJCAA national tournament at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Alabama, May 25-30. “The girls have been super excited. They just love the fact that they're here at this point, Nayeli Diaz, WNCC first-year head coach, said. “They've been through so much this year and they just want to fight and fight and fight and keep going to the best of their ability and they don't give up.
  • WNCC softball takes two from North Platte on sophomore day
    May 03, 2026
    Western Nebraska Community College made sophomore day memorable on Sunday, extending its winning streak to nine games with a walk‑off sweep of North Platte Community College at Volunteer Field. The first contest saw the Cougars score six times in the fifth inning to claim the 10-2 win on an Adi Duke walk-off single that scored Abbey Arntsen with the game-ending run. The second game saw North Platte hold a 5-1 lead in the seventh before the Cougars scored five times on a Viktoria Sarkanyova single that scored Duke with the winning run to claim the 6-5 win. WNCC is now 24-24 on the season and 17-15 in conference play. The Cougars will get the fourth seed for the Region IX tournament that begins Thursday in McCook. Alyssa Albaugh, one of the seven sophomores who was recognized after the game, said the team showed a lot of grit and toughness today. “The team showed a lot of grit and belief today, and that’s really what carried us to those two wins especially when we are walking games off,” Albaugh, the Torrington High School product, said. “We didn’t panic when we were down or in tight situations. Everyone stayed locked in, trusted each other, and kept competing pitch by pitch. Walk-off wins don’t just happen, they come from energy in the dugout, clutch at-bats, and not quitting. It says a lot about our team’s chemistry and toughness that we were able to finish both games that way.”
  • WNCC softball sweeps North Platte
    May 01, 2026
    NORTH PLATTE – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team ran their win streak to seven straight after taking a Region IX conference doubleheader from North Platte Community College Friday afternoon in North Platte. The Cougars led from start to finish in game one, pounding out 17 hits as Gracie Holm got the pitching win while also leading the Cougars at the plate with a four-RBI game and two doubles to lead WNCC to the 13-9 win. The second contest saw a 10-strikeout performance from Mia Migliaccio while holding North Platte to just three hits compared to 13 for WNCC as the Cougars captured the 7-2 win. WNCC moves to 22-24 overall and will host North Platte on Sunday in both teams’ last regular season games. The doubleheader, which starts at noon at Volunteer Field, will also be sophomore recognition for the six sophomore players and the student assistant after the contests.
  • WNCC softball sweeps past Trinidad State
    April 25, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team put together two complete contests and swept past Trinidad State College Saturday during 38-degree weather in Region IX conference action. The first game on Saturday saw Gracie Holm and Alyssa Albaugh each go 3-for-4, combining to score five runs as the Cougars scored three times in the sixth inning to take the 11-9 win. The second contest saw Mia Migliaccio toss a complete game with four strikeouts while shutting down the Trojan offense for the 11-7 win. The four wins over Trinidad this weekend were the first time the Cougars have swept the conference regular season games against Trinidad since the 2014 season. The wins locked the Cougars into the Region IX tournament that will start May 6 at McCook. The Cougars are sixth in the conference standings at 13-15 while Trinidad State falls to 11-21 with only the top six teams making the tournament. WNCC will wrap up the regular season next week against North Platte Community College with two games at North Platte on Friday and then sophomore recognition day on Sunday.
  • WNCC softball sweeps Trinidad on Friday
    April 24, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team knew what was on the line this weekend if they wanted to make the Region IX tournament and that was to win some games. The Cougars did that in exciting action, scoring 26 runs with clutch hits from different players in the two wins over Trinidad State College Friday at Volunteer Field. The first game saw the Cougars score in all six innings they batted, including a five-run fifth that gave WNCC the 16-11 win. The second contest saw WNCC jump to a 7-1 lead, fall behind 8-7 and then score two runs in the seventh on a walk-off hit by Alyssa Albaugh that scored Abbey Arntsen with the winning run for the 10-9 victory. WNCC moves into sixth place in the conference standings with the sweep at 11-15 and 18-24 overall. Trinidad State falls to 11-19 and 14-32 overall. The two teams will be back in action Saturday for a doubleheader at Volunteer Field beginning at 11 a.m. These two games are important as Trinidad State wraps up the regular season after Saturday, while the Cougars have four games with North Platte Community College next weekend. The top six teams will make the Region IX tournament that begins in May.
  • WNCC softball team splits contests with Lamar on Sunday
    April 19, 2026
    LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team split a pair of Region IX conference contests Sunday against Lamar Community College. The Cougars fell in the first game 9-8 in nine innings but bounced back with a strong defensive performance in the second contest to register a 10-3 win. WNCC goes to 16-24 overall and 9-15 in the conference, while Lamar is 12-12 in the conference. The Cougars will have six of the final eight games at home in the next two weeks, beginning with a key four-game series against Trinidad State College this weekend at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff. Trinidad currently sits just two games in front of the Cougars for the final Region IX tournament spot.
  • WNCC softball splits conference games with Lamar
    April 18, 2026
    LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team split a conference doubleheader with Lamar Community College on Saturday. The Cougars took the opener 14–10 before falling 9–7 in the second game. WNCC moves to 15–23 overall and 8–14 in conference play. Lamar is 19–27 overall and 14–12 in conference. The Cougars remain just one game out of the sixth and final Region IX tournament spot, trailing Trinidad State (11–15). The two teams will conclude the four‑game series Sunday in Lamar. WNCC then returns home next weekend to host Trinidad State before finishing the regular season with a four‑game series against North Platte (1–21 in conference). Lamar and WNCC will wrap up the four-game series with two contests on Sunday in important conference contests. After that, WNCC will host Trinidad State next weekend and then wrap up the regular season with a four-game series with North Platte (1-21 in conference play). The opener featured plenty of offense as the two teams combined for 24 runs and 22 hits. WNCC struck first with two runs in the opening inning, both coming with two outs. Adi Duke singled in one run, and Jasmine Castro followed with another RBI single. The Cougars added a run in the second when Tina Horton tripled home Alyssa Albaugh.
  • Gering’s Brown excited to play softball for WNCC
    April 16, 2026
    The bridge between Gering High School and Western Nebraska Community College grew a little stronger on Wednesday as Bulldog standout Jacelyn Brown signed to join the Cougar softball program next year. For Brown, the decision to stay at home was more than just proximity; it was about being part of a program she grew up so much about. “I'm definitely excited to be playing at WNCC,” Brown said. “Playing at home allows me to stay close to family but meet new people. (WNCC) pulls girls from all around the country and even out of the country, so it would be a great way to meet new people.” It was a pretty easy decision to play softball at WNCC once visiting the campus and meeting with the team.
  • WNCC softball sweeps Otero on Sunday
    April 12, 2026
    LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team put together a complete performance in earning a conference sweep over Otero College Sunday in La Junta, Colorado. The Cougars scored nine runs in the first inning of game one as they coasted to the 16-5 win. The second game saw WNCC come back from a 4-2 deficit to plate three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to claim the 8-4 win. WNCC won all four games against Otero over the weekend. The last time the Cougars swept the Rattlers in a four-game series was 2017-18 and it was by almost the same scores. In 2017-18, WNCC outscored Otero 49-18 and this weekend, the Cougars outscored the Rattlers 52-18. The second game on Sunday saw a masterful pitching performance from Mia Migliaccio, who went 6 2/3 innings in allowing just one hit, one run, one walk, and striking out 12. The 12 strikeouts are the most by a Cougar pitcher since 2019 when Emma McMillan struck out 15 against McCook.
  • WNCC softball rolls to sweep over Otero on Saturday
    April 11, 2026
    LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team combined for 28 runs and 25 hits to claim a conference doubleheader over Otero College on Saturday in La Junta, Colorado. WNCC pounded out 11 hits and received home runs from Gracie Holm and Tori Travers in collecting the 11-3, five-inning win. In game two, Travers went 4-for-5 with four RBIs, four runs scored with a double and home run to get the 17-6 five-inning run-ruled win. WNCC moved to 12-22 overall and 5-13 in the conference, while Otero drops to 2-34 overall (1-17 in conference). The two teams will be back in action Sunday in La Junta for the conclusion of the four-game series. Abbey Arntsen, who had a big game from the circle and the plate, said these two games were huge. WNCC snapped an eight-game losing skid with the wins.
  • WNCC softball falls twice to Southeast in exciting action
    April 07, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team dropped both games of Tuesday’s conference doubleheader against Southeast Community College, falling 7–4 in Game One and 10–9 in walk‑off fashion in the nightcap. WNCC will be back in action Saturday and Sunday when they travel to LaJunta, Colorado, for a conference 4-game series. WNCC built an early advantage, but Southeast used a pair of big innings to rally past the Cougars 7–4 in Game One of Tuesday’s matchup in Beatrice.
  • WNCC softball plays tough against No. 25 McCook despite falling
    March 29, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team played tough defense against No. 25 McCook Community College Sunday afternoon at Volunteer Field. Despite the two seven-inning games, McCook had just a little bit more offense in claiming the doubleheader sweep. The first game was a pitcher’s duel early as McCook’s Paige Warren and WNCC’s Abbey Arntsen locked into a good battle with a 3-0 McCook lead for most of the game until late when the Indians won 10-0. The second contest was also a pitcher’s duel as WNCC’s Gracie Holm and McCook’s Hannah Schneider were dueling it out. In the end, McCook came away with the 7-1 win. The Cougars fall to 10-18 overall and 3-9 in conference play. McCook moves to 30-4 overall and 15-1 in the conference. WNCC will be on the road for the next three weekends for conference games. First up is a trip to Beatrice to face Southeast Community College on Friday and Saturday.
  • WNCC softball falls twice to No. 25 McCook
    March 27, 2026
    MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team couldn’t get the offense going in a doubleheader against No. 25 McCook Community College Friday in McCook. The first game saw the Cougars score first, but then allowed nine runs and McCook went on to claim the 13-1 win. The second game saw Hannah Schneider toss five innings of no-hit ball as the Indians won 8-0 in a game that was competitive despite the score on the scoreboard. The two teams will be back in action Sunday when McCook comes to Volunteer Field for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
  • WNCC softball splits with Miles on Sunday
    March 22, 2026
    For the second straight day, sophomore Tina Horton delivered a walk-off home run to help the Western Nebraska Community College softball team earn a split with Miles Community College on Sunday at Volunteer Field. It happened in game two Sunday as the Cougars were ahead 7-3. WNCC loaded the bases with two outs and Horton came through in a major way with a grand slam that clearly cleared the leftfield fence for the six-inning 11-3 to help the Cougars earn a split with the Pioneers. The opening game was one where the Cougars just needed to put behind them as Miles scored seven in the fourth inning enroute to the 17-6 win. Mia Migliaccio, who picked up the win in game two with a 2-hitter while walking three and striking out two, said it was a good way for the team to come back after falling in game one. “I think everyone played good. There was not too many errors and I feel like the defense and the bats were on,” Migliaccio said. “It was pretty important (to come back from the first game) because since we’ve been splitting so much, we have to start taking more series to get to the regional tournament.”
  • WNCC softball claims two wins over Miles on Saturday
    March 21, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team got timely hitting and clutch pitching performances from Gracie Holm and Mia Migliaccio in claiming a doubleheader from Miles Community College on Saturday at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff. The first game saw Holm strike out six in five innings of work while Abbey Arntsen went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a home run to lead the Cougars to the 11-3 win. The second game saw Migliaccio toss five strong innings while striking out seven while Tina Horton had a walk-off run-scoring triple to give the Cougars the 9-1 win. WNCC moves to 9-13 on the season and will host Miles for another doubleheader Sunday beginning at 11 a.m.
  • Holm hits two home runs including grand slam in game 2 win
    March 18, 2026
    Gracie Holm hammered two home runs, including a grand slam in the second game, and finished with seven RBIs as the freshman had a sixth-inning walk-off 2-run homer to help the Cougars to a 12-4 win Wednesday in a conference game against Northeastern Junior College. The opening game was an offensive show between the two teams with the teams combining for 29 runs and 31 hits as the Plainswomen held on to the 16-13 win. The Cougars move to 7-13 overall and 3-5 in conference and will host Miles Community College in non-conference games on Saturday and Sunday at Volunteer Field. Holm not only had the hot bat going 3-for-3 with her seven RBIs, but also got the pitching win with six innings of work in allowing just four runs and seven hits. The big difference in the game two win and the game one defeat was minimizing NJC runs and playing tough defensively.
  • WNCC drops pair of games to NJC
    March 17, 2026
    STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team hadn’t played a game in over a week and Tuesday it showed as the Cougars dropped a conference doubleheader to Northeastern 15-0 and 16-5 in Sterling, Colorado. The Cougars will look to get back on the right track when they host Northeastern Junior College Wednesday at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. Tuesday’s second game was the better game as the Cougars outhit the Plainswomen 10-9. The difference in the game was the Cougar defense committed eight errors.
  • WNCC softball team games changed with NJC
    March 13, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team had their games this weekend changed. The Cougars were scheduled to play Northeastern Junior College on Friday in Sterling, Colorado, but because of poor air quality in Colorado because of the number of wildfires going on, that game has been postponed until later. Date and time will be announced when confirmed. The Cougars softball team’s home game originally slated for Sunday, March 15 has been moved up a day to Saturday, March 14 because of cold temperatures forecasted for Sunday. Saturday’s conference doubleheader with NJC will start at 1 p.m. at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff.
  • Travers gets two home runs, WNCC sweeps Luna
    March 09, 2026
    Tori Travers finished the day with two home runs, including a grand slam, and had 10 RBIs in the two games Monday as the Cougars claimed a conference doubleheader from Luna Community College. The first game saw the Cougars score early and never trailed while getting a complete game pitching performance from Abbey Arntsen in the 7-4 win. The second game saw Travers get a grand slam with six RBIs as the Cougars scored 12 times in the fourth inning to get the 17-4, five-inning win. Travers, the sophomore from Sammanish, Washington, said these two wins were huge especially how the team played on Sunday where they fell twice to Luna.
  • WNCC softball team falls to Luna on Sunday
    March 08, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team dropped a conference doubleheader Sunday to Luna Community College despite playing strong in both games early. The first game saw Luna score five runs in the final three innings to claim the 11-8 win. Game two saw Luna hit two grand slams and scored nine, fourth-inning runs to claim the 17-7 win. The two teams will be back in action Monday for another conference doubleheader beginning at 12 noon. The first game saw the Cougars play well for the first five innings, scoring eight runs and holding an 8-6 lead through five innings.
  • WNCC softball splits games with Dawson on Sunday
    March 01, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team put together one of the best games of the season offensively and defensively in game one of a doubleheader with Dawson Community College on Sunday. The Cougars’ Mia Migliaccio tossed a complete game in allowing just one run and the offense was ignited with five early runs, including a home run from Abbey Arntsen in registering the 7-1 win. In the second game, the Cougars allowed two seventh-inning runs and then couldn’t capitalize in the bottom of the inning as Dawson registered the 12-9 extra-inning win. Arntsen said the team learned a lot about the team this week and the first game was just an unbelievable contest.
  • WNCC softball splits home opener against Dawson
    February 28, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College and Dawson Community College softball teams combined for 45 runs in two games as each took a game on Saturday at Volunteer Field. In the first game, Dawson scored three, seventh-inning runs to claim the 12-10 after the Cougars came back from an 8-0 deficit to lead 10-9 going into the seventh. The second game saw WNCC score seven times in the first and then win the game on a walk-off, bases loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to claim the 12-11 win. The two teams will be back in action Sunday with another doubleheader at Volunteer Field in Scottsbluff beginning at 12 noon.
  • WNCC softball plays well against Paris, but falls
    February 22, 2026
    PARIS, Texas – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team closed out their Texas swing with four losses on Saturday and Sunday. Saturday, the Cougars fell to Trinity Valley Community College by the scores of 15-0 and 26-0. Sunday, the Cougars played much better, especially in the first game as they were tied with the preseason 7th-ranked team Paris Junior College at 1-0 before dropping the front-end of the doubleheader 8-2. The second game saw Paris win 8-0.
  • WNCC softball falls twice to Tyler
    February 20, 2026
    TYLER, Texas – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team dropped a doubleheader to Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas on a 6-game road trip on Friday. The first game saw the Cougars score first but then allowed 11 early runs to fall 14-5. The second game saw the Cougars score six 5th-inning runs, but it wasn’t enough as Tyler earned the 15-6 win. The Cougars will continue their Texas road trip as they face Trinity Valley Community College on Saturday and then Paris Junior College on Sunday.
  • WNCC softball opens season with wins over Garden City
    February 15, 2026
    GARDEN CITY, Kan. -- The Western Nebraska Community College softball team combined for 27 runs and six home runs as the Cougars swept Garden City Community College in the team’s season opener Sunday in Garden City, Kansas. Game one saw the Cougars score nine, seventh-inning runs including home runs from Tina Horton, Tori Travers, and Gracie Holm to record the come-from-behind 16-13 win. The second game saw Abbey Arntsen hammer two home runs and finish with six RBIs while also going the distance in the circle in striking out four as the Cougars registered the 11-10 win. It was the first time the Cougars started the season 2-0 since the 2019 season. Arntsen, a freshman from Dinsmore, Saskatchewan, said the two wins were a team effort.
  • WNCC softball team ready to open season this weekend
    February 09, 2026
    The Western Nebraska Community College softball team got in some scrimmage time over the weekend during the 60-plus degree weather as they look to open the 2026 season with high hopes to repeat last season’s end-of-the-year accomplishments. WNCC will open the season on Sunday when they travel to Garden City Community College for a doubleheader and then the following weekend they head to Texas for three doubleheaders against Tyler Junior College, Trinity Valley Community College, and Paris Junior College. That is eight games in eight days. WNCC interim head coach Nayeli Daiz said this team is ready to get the season going. “The team extremely excited to get the season started,” Diaz said. “We return a talented group of sophomores who played a significant amount of innings last year and have proven themselves as leaders through adversity both on and off the field.”