MCC Softball opens Region IX schedule with a 4-3 loss to Northeastern JC

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. – The Northeastern Junior College softball team edged McCook Community College Sunday night 4-3 to open the Region IX schedule for both teams.

The Plainswomen broke a 3-3 tie with the decisive run in the sixth inning.

"It was a pretty good game on both ends," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "Our pitchers threw good enough to win."

NJC improves to 10-4. MCC falls to 1-10. The teams will continue their five-game series Monday and Tuesday with doubleheaders set to start at 1 p.m. (CT).

Northeastern opened the scoring with a solo home run on the first pitch in the bottom of the first. MCC responded with a run in the second on a two-out single and a Plainswoman error then then took a 2-1 lead in the third when freshman Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) doubled and later came home on an-RBI groundout with freshman Brylee Dean (Gering) at the plate.

NJC reclaimed the lead 3-2 with a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. MCC starter Isabella Robertson (freshman, Las Alamos, N.M.) pitched 2.2 innings, and gave up the three earned runs on five hits and a walk.

Freshman Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) came on in the third inning and kept the Plainswomen off the scoreboard in the fourth and fifth innings.

MCC tied the game in the sixth with a two-out rally of their own, getting singles from freshman Katie Taylor (McCook), Emma Pennala (sophomore, Kennewick, Wash.) and the game tying RBI-single by sophomore Nevaeh Ogden (Littleton Colo.).

NJC was able to push the eventual winning run home in the bottom of the sixth on a single, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI-single.

"These are the games we should win," Mendenhall said. "We are so close to being a very good team."

Dean doubled with two outs in the seventh, but MCC was unable to score.

Covill-Marter pitched 3.1 innings, allowed three hits, one earned run. She walked two and struck out five.

MCC had nine hits in the game with two each by Taylor, Pennala and Suhai.

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