CISCO, Texas – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team moved to 2-2 on the season after splitting a doubleheader with Cisco College on Saturday in Texas.
The Cougars dropped the first game 12-1 but came back with a big seventh inning as Alyssa Albaugh a go-ahead 2-run double to help the Cougars to the 7-6 win.
The second game was a barn-burner as the two teams stayed with each other from the get-go. After a scoreless first inning, Cisco went up 1-0 with a run in the second.
WNCC answered with three in the third as Lydia Tibbals led off with a double and scored on an Ellie Soper single to tie the game. WNCC loaded the bases with just one out. Adi Duke came through with a 2-out single that scored Tina Horton and Tori Travers for a 3-1 lead.
It didn't last long as Cisco answered with four in the bottom of the frame for a 5-3 lead. WNCC tied the game in the fourth with two runs. Albaugh and Randi Mitchell earned walks and then Albaugh scored on a passed ball. WNCC tied the game at 5-5 as Tibbals scored on a Soper single.
Cisco went up 6-5 with a run in the fifth. Neither team scored in the sixth, setting up the dramatic seventh. JoLee Huffaker started the rally with a 2-out single. Duke followed by getting a walk. Albaugh then took the second pitch and doubled to rightfield to plate the two go-ahead runs.
Cisco started the seventh with a lead-off double. WNCC's defense came up big as Tibbals got the first out on a flyball in foul territory. The second out came as third baseman Travers fielded the ball, held the runner at third, and got the batter at first. The final out as Soper handled the flyball in centerfield with ease to get the win.
WNCC finished with 10 hits to Cisco's nine. Huffaker and Soper each had two hits in the win. Duke and Albaugh each had two RBIs.
Stocking got the complete game win, scattering nine hits and striking out three.
The opening game was all Cisco as the Wranglers scored four in the first and seven in the third for an 11-0 lead. Cisco led 12-0 going into the fifth. WNCC, in there final at bat, plated one run as Huffaker and Albaugh had singles. Albaugh later advanced to third on a passed ball and the scored on a grounder for the only run of the game.
WNCC was outhit 7-3. The only hits came from Huffaker, Albaugh, and Travers.
WNCC, 2-2 on the season, will be back in action this weekend as they face Trinity Valley Community College and Howard College on Friday and Saturday in Athens, Texas, and then taking on Paris Junior College on Sunday. WNCC will then have four straight dates from February 22 through the 25th when they host Fort Hays Tech Northwest and Miles Community College.
Game 1
WNCC 000 01 – 1 3 5
Cisco 407 1x – 12 7 4
LP – Jenika Fuentes.
Game 2
WNCC 003 200 2 – 7 10 4
Cisco 014 010 0 – 6 9 3
WP – Kallie Stocking.
2B – Alyssa Albaugh, Lydia Tibbals.