MCC Softball splits pair of games with first-place Trinidad State

The McCook Community College softball team split a doubleheader at home Saturday taking down first-place Trinidad State 2-0 in the first game and dropping the second game 10-3.

Freshman Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in Game 1 before allowing one hit. She struck out 14 Lady Trojans in the complete-game win.

"It was by far the best pitching performance of the year by Ella," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "It was a pitcher's duel. It is extremely tough to shut out that lineup."

Trinidad State had only been shut out one other time this season.

In Game 2, Trinidad State broke open a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning with four runs on the way to a 10-3 win.

"We had a lot of bad communication early in the game which led to them capitalizing on our mistakes," said Mendenhall. "We need to make adjustments at the plate a lot sooner."

Trinidad goes to 21-2 in the Region IX standings and 31-8 overall.

MCC goes to 12-10 in the region and 20-24 overall. The five-game series at the Jaycees Sports Complex continues Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.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 2, TrinidadState 0: MCC scored in the third inning on a one-out single from sophomore Madisyn Simms (Maple Ridge, British Columbia), and an RBI double by freshman Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta).

Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) retired 18 of the first 19 batters she faced, with the only runner reaching base on an MCC error.

MCC added a run in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff double by Emma Pennala (Kennewick, Wash.), a single by Cassidy Fife (Provo, Utah), an error, a fielder's choice and a bases-loaded walk with freshman Kalyn Jackson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) at bat.

Covill-Marter struck out the first batter in the Trinidad seventh, then allowed a double off the leftfield fence for the Lady Trojans's only hit of the game. She set down the final two batters on strikeouts to pick up the shutout allowing one hit, no walks and she struck out 14 hitters.

MCC had six hits in the game with two by Suhai who had a double and a triple. MCC's other extra-base hits came from Simms (a double), and Fife (a triple).

GAME 2 – Trinidad State 10, McCook CC 3: Trinidad scored three times in the first but MCC responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning on a walk, a hit batter and a two-run Trinidad error.

Sophomore Nevaeh Ogden (Littleton Colo.) tripled to lead off the MCC second and scored on a sacrifice fly by Madisyn Simms to tie the game at 3-3.

The Lady Trojans scored two in the third to lead 5-3, then added four in the fourth and one more in the sixth.

Ella Covill-Marter pitched 3.2 innings, allowed nine hits, six earned runs, one walk and seven strikeouts. Freshman Isabella Robertson (Las Alamos, N.M.) pitched the final 3.1 innings, allowed two earned runs on three hits, one walk and four strikeouts.

MCC had five hits in the game with four singles and the Ogden triple.