MCC Softball sweeps North Platte 10-0, 12-3; takes over NCCAC lead

NORTH PLATTE – The McCook Community College softball team took over first place in the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference standings with two wins Tuesday at North Platte, 10-0, and 12-3.

Freshman Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) pitched a two-hit, five-inning shutout in Game 1 as MCC scored at least two runs in four of the five innings. Hailee Ruble (Delta, Colo.) picked up the Game 2 win, allowing just one earned run.

"We had two excellent pitching performances on the day. Both Hailee and Ella set the tone for the day," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "Hailee had her best performance in the circle with six strikeouts and no walks. 

Freshman Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) hit first-inning home runs in both games and drove in four runs in Game 2.

"We had more energy than I anticipated with this being our seventh game in four days," said Mendenhall. "I'm very proud of these ladies."

The win moves MCC to 5-1 in the NCCA, just ahead of Central Community College in winning percentage. The win also brings MCC to the brink of a .500 overall record on the season at 19-20.

North Platte goes to 1-5 in the Nebraska conference and 10-23 overall.

The grueling schedule continues Wednesday with a trip to Beatrice for another NCCAC doubleheader then MCC will host Trinidad State in Region IX play this weekend with a five-game series starting Friday at the Jaycees Sports Complex with a single game starting at 2 p.m., continuing with a doubleheaders starting at noon Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday.

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 10, North Platte Opponent 0: MCC scored two runs in the first on a two-out home run from freshman Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) and an RBI single by sophomore Emma Pennala (Kennewick, Wash.). Freshman Katie Taylor (McCook) doubled to lead off the second and after a pair of walks loaded the bases, MCC got RBI-hits from Madisyn Simms (sophomore, Maple Ridge, British Columbia) and Suhai to give their team a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth, MCC loaded the bases on three straight one-out walks, scored one run on a passed ball and two more on an RBI-double by sophomore Cassidy Fife to put MCC up 7-0.

MCC closed out the scoring in the fifth and a pair of walks, a dropped third strike and a three-run double by sophomore Hailee Ruble (Delta, Colo.).

Ella Covill-Marter preserved the five-inning shutout, allowing two hits, three walks and she struck out seven.

MCC had six hits and walked 10 times. Suhai reached base on a pair of hits, a walk, and drove in two. Ruble reached base three times with three RBIs.

GAME 2 –McCook CC 12, North Platte 3: Andi Suhai hit a two-run home run in the first to give MCC a 2-0 lead. A pair of leadoff walks in the third inning, set things up for MCC as Emma Pennala bunted the runners into scoring position for Cassidy Fife, who doubled both runners home. She scored on an RBI-single by Katie Taylor to go up 5-0.

Fife drew a one-out walk in the fifth and put MCC up 6-0 on a North Platte error. The Knights cut the deficit in half scoring three times in the bottom of the inning.

MCC got two of those runs back in the sixth with a leadoff single by sophomore Nevaeh Ogden (Littleton Colo.), a double by Madisyn Simms, a sacrifice fly by Suhai and a passed ball.

Ava Martinez (Houston, Texas) singled to lead off the MCC seventh. After a hit batter and a one-out walk Simms emptied the bases with a double to put MCC up 11-3. Suhai's sacrifice fly drove home Simms for the final run of the game.

Hailee Ruble started the game in the circle for MCC and picked up the win allowing eight hits and one earned run with no walks and six strikeouts.

MCC had 10 hits with two each by Taylor, Ogden and Simms. Suhai led MCC with four RBIs, Simms had three and Taylor and Fife had two each.

NEBRASKA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ATHLETIC CONFERENCE STANDINGS

                         W - L      PCT.

McCook CC         5 – 1       .833

Central CC          8 – 2       .800

Southeast CC      2 – 6       .250

North Platte        1 – 7       .125

MCC NCCAC RESULTS

March 30 – G1: MCC 12, Southeast 11. G2: MCC 7, Southeast CC 6 (at McCook)

April 13 – G1: MCC 7, Central 4. G2: Central 10, MCC 5 (at McCook)

April 18 – G1: MCC 10, North Platte 0; G2: McCook 12, North Platte 3 (at North Platte)

MCC's REMAINING NCCAC SCHEDULE

April 19 – McCook CC at Southeast CC, 2 games

April 26 – McCook CC at Central CC, 2 games

April 28 – North Platte at McCook CC, 2 games