Lady Indians win 12th straight with sweep in Oklahoma

ALTUS, Okla. – The McCook Community College softball team came back from a 3-0 deficit in the seventh inning of Game 1 Friday to down Western Oklahoma State 5-3, and rolled to a 13-4 win in Game 2. The wins move the MCC win streak to 12 games.

Sophomore Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia) struck out seven, allowed one walk and one earned run in the opening game while driving in the tying-run in the seventh inning.

"You could tell the nerves got to us. We just didn't look comfortable at the plate or in the field," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "They didn't give up and we used the momentum of winning the first game and took it to the second game.

MCC scored seven runs in the first inning of Game 2 and rolled to the win in five innings, pounding out 17 hits.

"These were great team wins today," said Mendenhall.

The Pioneers go to 6-9 on the year.

MCC, 12-2 travels to Clarendon, Texas Saturday to take on the Lady Bulldogs (0-8) in a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.

On Monday, MCC is at home for a doubleheader against Northwest Kansas Technical College. First pitch at the Jaycees Sports Complex is 2 p.m.

All the latest information MCC softball including up-to-date schedule and changes as well as statistics, rosters and photos can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com

GAME 1 – McCook CC 5, West. OK St. 3: The Pioneers took a 2-0 lead with a pair of unearned runs in the second inning on two hit batters and two MCC errors.

After Western Oklahoma hit three consecutive singles to start the third inning sophomore starting pitcher Ella Covill-Marter was able to pitch out of the inning inducing a groundout and then struck out the next two hitters.

The Pioneers scored a run in the sixth to take a 3-0 lead.

Freshman Lexi Knapp (Berthoud, Colo.) singled to lead off the MCC seventh. After a walk, freshman Anna Elliott (Calgary, Alberta) laid down a bunt single and the lead runner scored on an error. Sophomore Brylee Dean (Gering) doubled to make it a 3-2 game and Covill-Marter's RBI single tied the game 3-3. Dean scored on a passed ball to put MCC up 4-3 and freshman Ayana Goodwin (Broomfield, Colo.) scored Covill-Marter on an RBI-groundout.

Western Oklahoma State loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning with one out but Covill-Marter induced a line out and got a strikeout to end the game. She allowed six hits, one earned run, one walk and struck out seven to pick up the win.

"Ella threw a fantastic game for us," said Mendenhall.

MCC had eight hits in the game with two each by Knapp and freshman Angela Banzet (Surrey, British Columbia).

"The bottom of the lineup won us this game and it was nice to see them step up," said Mendehnall.

GAME 2 – McCook CC 13, West. OK ST 4: MCC scored six runs after two outs in the first inning to take a 7-0 lead. The Lady Indians added one in the second, two in the third and three in the fifth inning.

Freshman Laila Gutierrez (Seminole, Texas) drove in five runs on three hits including a three-run home run in the fifth.

In addition to Gutierrez having a three-hit game, MCC also got three hits from freshman Rocio Mascorro (Brownsville, Texas) and sophomore Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta).

Freshman Sadie Kahl (Calgary, Alberta) went the distance in the pitching circle, allowing five hits, three earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts.

"Sadie did a nice job in Game 2 and our offense was back where we needed it to be. We looked a lot more comfortable in the box in Game 2.