MCC Softball scores 35 runs in doubleheader sweep over Runnin’ Lopes

LAMAR, Colo. – The McCook Community College softball team took a pair of Region IX games Saturday beating Lamar Community College 16-3 and 19-9.

"It's always nice to get a sweep on the day," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. 

MCC scored 12 runs in the third inning of Game 1 to back the five-inning, complete-game effort from freshman Isabella Robertson (Las Alamos, N.M.) and got 0a f0our-hit game from sophomore Emma Pennala (Kennewick, Wash.).

"The first game we came out swinging and had a good performance in the circle from Bell," said Mendenhall. "Emma has been on fire since we moved her down into the five-hole."

MCC followed suit in Game two, scoring 11 runs in the third inning and sophomore Cassidy Fife (Provo, Utah) drove in seven runs in the game with a double and a grand slam home run.

"In Game 2 we came out swinging again but we did have a little bit of a rough inning where Lamar scored seven," said Mendenhall. "We need to be better in those situations."

MCC received a bit of good news on the won-loss record front when the Region IX office awarded MCC two more wins because it determined Northeastern Junior College used an ineligible player earlier in the season. Coupled with the two wins Saturday, MCC is now 9-7 in Region IX and 15-19 overall.

Lamar falls to 0-20 in the region and 2-26 overall.

The two teams resume the series with a Sunday doubleheader and one game Monday.

On Tuesday MCC travels to North Platte for two games starting at 4 p.m. followed by a Wednesday trip to Beatrice for a pair of games with Southeast Community College starting at 2 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 CC 16, Lamar CC 3: Leading 2-1 after two innings, MCC broke the game open with 12 third-inning runs. Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) led the inning off with a single and later in the inning, hit a two-run homer. Emma Pennala also had two hits in the inning along with sophomore Cassidy Fife.

Isabella Robertson (Las Alamos, N.M.) picked up the five-inning win, allowing four hits, one earned run, two walks and three strikeouts.

"She really competed in the zone today and we made plays behind her," said Mendenhall.

MCC had 17 hits in the game with four by Pennala, three by Suhai and two-hit games from Fife and sophomore Madisyn Simms (Maple Ridge, British Columbia). All nine starters in the batting order had at least one hit and scored one run.

"When we get production from one through nine, we are tough to beat," said Mendenhall.

GAME 2 – McCook CC 19, Lamar CC 9: Much like the first game, MCC expanded on a 2-0 lead scoring 11 runs in the third inning, starting with a leadoff home run by Andi Suhai and capped by a grand slam from Cassidy Fife.

Lamar scored seven times in the bottom of the inning, but MCC kept the hot bats swinging and added five in the fourth keyed by a two-out, two-run double by Fife and a two-run single by freshman Brylee Dean (Gering).

Freshman Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) picked up the five-inning win in the circle, allowing seven hits and seven earned runs, walking two and fanning seven.

MCC had 11 hits in the game with two each by Fife and sophomore Nevaeh Ogden (Littleton Colo.), who also scored four runs from the leadoff position.