MCC softball wins twice to open Region IX tournament play

STERLING, Colo. – The McCook Community College team opened the Region IX tournament Thursday with wins over Western Nebraska and Trinidad State. The wins moves MCC into a championship bracket game Friday against top-seeded Northeastern Junior College in the double elimination tournament.

Freshman Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) struck out 12 hitters in Game 1 as MCC downed Western Nebraska 4-1 and a pair of McCook high graduates teamed up to score the winning run in the seventh inning of Game 2 over second-seeded Trinidad State 3-2.

"These girls battled today," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "They played stellar defense and Ella threw absolutely lights out both games."

Covill-Marter pitched 14 innings on the day, allowing one earned run on eight hits, two walks and struck out 21 hitters on the day. The tournament was delayed for about two hours and 30 minutes because of a mid-afternoon storm.

Tied 2-2 in the seventh inning of Game 2, MHS graduates Graci Nelson singled home pinch runner Katie Taylor with the winning run.

"These girls never gave up. They had energy even when we were down. Earlier in the year we don't win that game," said Mendenhall. "We knew it was going to be a pitcher's duel and we had some clutch hits late when we needed them."

MCC improves to 30-27 on the season and moves on to the championship bracket game against top-seeded Northeastern Junior College (35-13) Friday at 3:300000 0p.m. (MT). Both teams will be in action again Saturday and possibly Sunday.

On Friday, the schedule begins with two elimination games. Trinidad State (35-13) takes on Otero (17-31) in the early game (10:30 a.m. MT) and Luna (16-31) and Western Nebraska (11-35 ) face off in the second game. After the MCC/NJC game, the final game of the day will be between the winner of the Trinidad/Otero game and the winner of the Western Nebraska/Luna game.

In the first game of the day Thursday, fifth-seeded Luna Community College downed fourth-seeded Otero 7-2. In other first-round action, second-seeded Trinidad State took down No. 7 Lamar 20-0. Top-seeded Northeastern Junior College and Luna endured the weather delay before the Plainswomen prevailed 18-0. Western Nebraska came back in the fifth game of the day to eliminate Lamar 19-6.

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 4, Western Nebraska 1: MCC scored a run in the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Madisyn Simms (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) and freshman Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta).

After the Cougars tied the game on a two-out hit in the top of the third, MCC reclaimed the lead for good with one-out singles by Simms and Suhai and an RBI-groundout by sophomore Hailee Ruble (Delta, Colo.),

In the sixth inning, MCC was able to stretch the lead with a leadoff single by Suhai and a two-run home run by Ruble.

"We struggled to get our bats going but had a clutch hit by Hailee late in the game to give us some breathing room," said Mendenhall.

Ella Covill-Marter picked up the win in the pitching circle allowing five hits, one run, two walks and she struck out 12 hitters.

MCC had six hits in the game with three by Suhai, two by Simms and the Ruble homer.

GAME 2 – McCook CC 3, Trinidad State 2: Ella Covill-Marter and Trinidad's starting pitcher Torie Sandoval dominated the first four innings of the game. The Lady Trojans broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning with a pair of unearned runs to lead 2-0.

MCC tied the game in the sixth inning. Covill-Marter led off the sixth with a single and Cassidy Fife (Provo, Utah) drove a one-out single to left. Madisyn Simms drove home MCC's first run with an RBI-groundout. With two outs and down 1-2 in the count, Andi Suhai fouled off two pitches before lining a single into left field to score Fife with the tying run.

In the seventh, freshman Ava Martinez (Houston, Texas) lined a out-out single to centerfield and advanced to second on an outfield error. Katie Taylor came in to pinch run and fellow Graci Nelson lined a single to right field to put MCC up 3-2.

Covill-Marter struck out the side in the seventh to finish the game. She allowed three hits, and struck out nine hitters to pick up her second win of the day.

MCC had six hits in the game, all singles.

REGION IX DIVISION 1 TOURNAMENT

at Sterling, Colo. May 4-6

(All games MST)

THURSDAY RESULTS

Game 1 – Luna CC 7, Otero JC 2

Game 2 – McCook CC 4, Western Nebraska 1

Game 3 – Trinidad State 20, Lamar 0 (5 innings)

Game 4 – Northeastern JC 18, Luna CC 0 (5 innings)

Game 5 – Western Nebraska 19, Lamar 6 (5 innings) – (Lamar eliminated)

Game 6 – McCook 3, Trinidad State 2

FRIDAY GAMES

Game 7 – Trinidad State vs Otero Junior College, 10:30 a.m. (elimination game)

Game 8 – Luna CC vs. Western Nebraska, 1 p.m. (elimination game)

Game 9 – Northeastern JC vs. McCook, 3:30 p.m.

Game 10 – Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 6 p.m. (elimination game)

SATURDAY GAMES

Game 11 – Game 9 loser vs. Game 10 winner, 10 a.m.

Game 12 – Game 9 winner vs. Game 11 winner, 12:30 p.m.

SUNDAY GAMES (If necessary)

Game 13 – Game 9 loser vs. Game 11 winner, 10 a.m.