Luna Community College scores 3-2 Saturday win before snow postpones second game

The Luna Community College softball team scored two first-inning runs Saturday in a 3-2 win over McCook Community College. The teams were supposed to play two games but the second game was postponed by adverse weather.

"We eliminate a few mistakes, and we win the game," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "And we needed some more offensive production to take advantage of the opportunities we have with runners on base," said Mendenhall.

Luna's Angelica Ortiz hit a first-inning home run put her team up 2-0.

MCC scored a run in the second inning as sophomore Hailee Ruble (Delta, Colo.) led off with a single. Cassidy Fife (Provo, Utah) laid down a sacrifice bunt and freshman Katie Taylor (McCook) came through with a two-out RBI-single to cut the gap to 2-1.

Ortiz powered another home run in the fourth to put Luna up 3-1.

MCC put two runners on base in the sixth inning with one out but left those runners on base.

The team rallied again in the ninth. Freshman Graci Nelson (McCook) led off the inning with a single and went to second on a groundball by Taylor. Freshman Kalyn Jackson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) was hit by a pitch and sophomore Emma Pennala (Kennewick, Wash.) followed with an RBI-double to bring home Nelson. Jackson was thrown out at home on a grounder to third base and MCC left the tying run on third base.

"We also need to be smarter on the base paths," Mendenhall said.

Freshman Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) started in the pitching circle and went seven innings, allowing seven hits, three earned runs, five walks and she struck out six.

"Ella threw very well," said Mendenhall.

MCC had seven hits with two by Taylor.

The two teams split the four-game series. The Roughriders are now 4-5 in Region IX and 6-18 overall.

MCC goes to 3-16 on the season and 2-7 in the Region IX standings. The team is set to host Cloud County Tuesday in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. and host Southeast Community College Friday with two games 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