Lady Wranglers snag a pair of wins over MCC softball

CISCO, Texas – The MCC offense showed some offensive spark Thursday, but the team was swept by Cisco Community College 11-3 and 10-9.

The Wranglers picked up the win in Game 2 on an MCC error and a walk-off double.

MCC had 19 hits on the day but committed nine errors – six in the first game.

"In the first game we struggled in all aspects," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "We showed some fight in Game 2. If we make two plays defensively, we win the game."

MCC had 13 hits on the day but committed nine errors.

Cisco improves to 8-4, MCC goes to 0-6.

"Once we put the pieces together, we will be a tough team to beat," said Mendenhall.

MCC continues its Texas trip Friday and Saturday with two games each day in the Cisco College Invite at Brownwood, Texas. On Friday MCC plays Western Oklahoma State College at 11:30 a.m. followed by a 1:30 p.m. game against Odessa College.

On Saturday MCC starts things off at 9 a.m. against Midland College then takes on Pratt Community College (Kansas) at 12:15 p.m.

MCC's home-opener is scheduled for Feb. 26 at 1 p.m. against Colby Community College.

For all the up-to-date information on MCC softball this season including up-to-date scheduling changes, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at mccindians.com

GAME 1 – Cisco 11, McCook CC 3: McCook scored its first runs of the season and took its first lead in the first inning. Sophomore Emma Pennala (Kennewick, Wash.) singled to lead off the game. After two outs freshman Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) singled and freshman Graci Nelson (McCook) tripled in two runs to send MCC to the 2-0 lead.

Cisco tied the game with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the inning then took a 5-2 lead with three unearned runs in the second. The Wranglers scored four runs in the third on a pair of walks, four singles and a double to lead 9-2.

"We just didn't seem to want the ball and make a play," said Mendenhall. "We played very timid."

Freshman Brylee Dean (Gering) drove in MCC's third run of the game with a two-out RBI double in the fourth inning.

Sophomore Hailee Ruble (Delta, Colo.) started in the circle and went 1.1 innings, allowed four hits, no earned runs and one walk. Freshman Isabella Robertson (Las Alamos, N.M.) pitched the final 3.1 innings, giving up nine hits, five walks and five earned runs. She struck out two.

"Hailee Ruble started the game for us and then took a line drive off the forearm so that limited her outing," Mendenhall said.

MCC had six hits in the game with two by Pennala. The team committed six errors.

GAME 2 – Cisco College 10, McCook CC 9: Cisco took a 4-0 lead after two innings before MCC responded with a six-run third inning.

Freshmen Brylee Dean (Gering) and Katie Taylor (McCook) doubled and singled to lead off the third. After Dean scored on a Taylor steal, Nevaeh Ogden (sophomore Littleton Colo.) delivered an RBI-single to cut the gap to 4-2. Madisyn Simms (sophomore Maple Ridge, British Columbia) tripled home Ogden and MCC tied the game on an Andi Suhai single. With two out, a triple by sophomore Cassidy Fife (Provo, Utah) gave MCC a 5-4 lead and Ava Martinez (Houston, Texas) singled to make it a 6-4 lead.

"It was nice to see them battle and show some life after the first game," said Mendenhall.

After Cisco scored a run in the third, MCC got it back in the fourth on a two-out RBI-single by Simms. The Wranglers cut the MCC lead to 7-6 with a run in the bottom of the inning.

Graci Nelson led off the fifth with a single and with two outs scored on a passed ball to put MCC up 8-6 but Cisco scored three times in the bottom of the frame to go up 9-8.

After a scoreless sixth inning, MCC tied the game in the seventh with a leadoff homer by Suhai but the Wranglers scored in the bottom of the inning on an MCC error and a walk-off double.

Both teams had 13 hits. Simms led MCC with three. Ogden and Suhai had two each.

Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) pitched a complete game for MCC. She allowed seven earned runs, walked one and struck out six.

"Ella threw a great game," said Mendenhall.