Plainsmen sweep Sunday doubleheader over MCC Baseball

LA JUNTA, Colo. – Northeastern Junior College took two games from McCook Community College Sunday, 8-7 and 16-4.

"It was a tough day, total opposite from yesterday," said MCC Coach Jon Olsen. "We need to learn to put back-to-back days together."

In Game 1, MCC brought the tying run to second base with one out in the bottom of the seventh but couldn't push the tying run home. MCC held a 3-2 lead in Game 2 into the fourth inning before NJC scored three runs in the fourth, four in the fifth and seven in the sixth.

"We just couldn't get into either game with our starter, Olsen said. "We got two pretty good bullpen performances in Game 1 and Aiden Johnson was in a tough in Game 2.

Johnson, freshman from Westminster, Colo., was brought on in relief three batters into the game after Game 2 starter Cade Webber (sophomore, Kelowna, British Columbia) left with an injury.

"We just didn't throw enough strikes in the second game," said Olsen.

NJC goes to 9-7 on the season and 2-1 in the Empire League (Region IX) standings. MCC goes to 5-8 overall (1-2 in the standings).

The team is scheduled to travel to Elkhorn's Frerichs Field Wednesday for a game against Northeast Community College (Norfolk) at 12:30 p.m. The Hawks, under former MCC assistant Marcus Clapp, are 8-4 to start the season. On Saturday MCC is back in Empire League play with a pair of doubleheaders at Trinidad State.

For all the up-to-date information on MCC baseball this season including up-to-date scheduling changes.

GAME 1 – Northeastern JC 8, McCook CC 7: The Plainsmen scored five runs in the second and took a 7-2 lead in the second with two more runs.

Sophomore Myles Chabi (Sydney, Australia) started on the mound and surrendered four earned runs on two hits, a walk and two strikeouts in his 1.2 innings of work. Freshman Jereniel Herrera (Panama City, Panama) relieved with two outs in the second.

Sophomore Abel Reyes (Puerto Caimito, Panama), led off the MCC third with a double to centerfield and came home on a two-out RBI from freshman Michael Quick (Oshawa, Ontario). An inning later Josh Maysonave (Austin, Texas) led off with a single and scored on a two out RBI-single from sophomore transfer Alliskair Descartes (Thornton, Colo.) to make it a 7-2 game.

NJC got a run back in the fifth off Herrera, who went 2.2 innings, allowed five hits, and three earned runs with one strikeout.

In the bottom of the fifth, MCC cut the six-run deficit in half – all with two outs. After a Maysonave walk and a Plainsman error, freshman Jackson Yeager (Omaha Westside) doubled in Maysonave and sophomore Riley Watson (Sydney, Australia) made it an 8-5 game with a two-run single. Sophomore reliever Owen Lester (St. Charles, Ill.), keep NJC in check over 2.2 innings of work. He pitched scoreless, hitless ball with two walks and two strikeouts.

MCC scored a run in the sixth on a Trent Elshire (Plattsmouth) double and a two-out single from sophomore Ethan Murdoch (Swift Current, Saskatchewan). Davies walked to lead off the MCC seventh, Yeager followed with a walk and Reyes drew a one-out walk. Davies scored on a fielder's choice, but NJC was able to preserve the win with the final out.

"It was good to see us battle back but just couldn't get the big hit to finish it off," said Olsen.

MCC had 13 hits in the game with all nine position players getting at least one hit. Yeager had three, Davies two and Elshire two.

GAME 2 – Northeastern JC 16, McCook CC 4: The Plainsmen scored two-first inning runs off Cade Webber, who left after walking the first two batters and a 3-0 count on the third batter.

MCC scored three times in the second inning. After a pair of leadoff walks, Riley Watson doubled home the first run, and the next two batters - Alliskair Descartes and Trent Elshire – drove home runs on groundouts.

Aiden Johnson pitched into the fifth inning before NJC took a 9-3 lead. Johnson went 4.1 innings, allowed seven hits, six earned runs, no walks and five strikeouts.

Relievers Rocky Yates (redshirt freshman, Sydney, Australia), Victor Nane, (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic), and Jelle Bing (Heerhagoaard, Netherlands) pitched a combined 1.2 innings and collectively gave up six hits, three walks and eight earned runs. Freshman William Coe (North Platte) pitched the final frame of scoreless, hitless work. He walked two and struck out one.

MCC's other run came in the fifth on an Elshire triple and a sacrifice fly by Blake Dale (freshman, Riverton, Wyo.).

The Plainsmen outhit MCC 13-3.