MCC Softball picks up first win of season, splits Saturday games

BROWNWOOD, Texas – The McCook Community College softball team picked up its first win of the season Saturday with a 10-5 win over Midland College (Texas). MCC surrendered four second-run innings in Game 2 against Pratt Community College (Kan.) and lost 5-4.

"That was a very solid team all around that we beat," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall of the Game 1 win over Midland. "We just need to keep the energy every game."

MCC squandered several scoring opportunities in Game 2.

"We just couldn't get the clutch hits when we needed them," said Mendenhall.

MCC goes to 1-9 on the season with the home-opener scheduled for Feb. 26 with two games against Colby Community College starting at 1 p.m.

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 –McCook 10, Midland College 5: Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the second inning, MCC took the lead for good with three runs. Freshman Ava Martinez (Houston, Texas) led the inning off with a single. A pair of one-out walks loaded the bases and a pair of passed balls put MCC up 4-2. Sophomore Madisyn Simms (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) put MCC up 5-2 with a sacrifice fly.

In the fourth MCC added to the lead with a two-out single from sophomore Nevaeh Ogden (Littleton Colo.) followed by a single and a Midland error to make it a 6-2 game.

Midland scored a run in the fifth, but MCC took charge of the game scoring four times in the sixth inning.

Following a Chaparral error and a single by Emma Pennala (sophomore Kennewick, Wash.). Ogden delivered an RBI-groundout followed by an RBI-single from Simms. MCC then got RBI-doubles from freshman Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) and sophomore Cassidy Fife (Provo, Utah) to stretch the lead to 10-3.

"We played a complete game all around our pitching was on point," said Mendenhall. "We played pretty good defense and had a lot of clutch hits."

Pitcher Isabella Robertson (Las Alamos, N.M.) twirled the first 4.2 innings for MCC and picked up the win, allowing six hits, three earned runs and striking out three. Ella Covill-Marter (freshman, Queensland, Australia) picked up the save pitching the final 2.1 innings and allowing three hits, and two earned runs with a walk and three strikeouts.

MCC had 10 hits in the game with three by Simms and two by Suhai.

GAME 2 – Pratt College 5, McCook CC 4: A leadoff single by Emma Pennala, a stolen base and an RBI-double by Naveh Ogden put MCC up 1-0 in the first.

Pratt scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning to lead 4-1. Starting pitcher Hailee Ruble (sophomore, Delta, Colo.) was relieved in the second after allowing five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

MCC cut into the lead with a run in the third and one in the fourth, but Pratte built on the 4-3 lead with a run in the fifth inning.

"We had girls on second and third base multiple times with less than two outs and never ended up having that big inning we needed," said Mendenhall.

MCC was able to load the bases in the seventh with two leadoff walks and a two out single, but Pratt was able to hold on for the win.

Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) pitched the final five innings, allowing two hits and no earned runs. She struck out 10 hitters.

MCC had seven hits in the game with two apiece by Pennala and Simms.

"We also had some mental mistakes on the base paths and at the plate," said Mendenhall.

"We need to take care of the little things and win those games."