Lady Indians keep win streak alive with Monday sweep

The McCook Community College softball team swept Northwest Kansas Technical College Monday at home 15-0 and 16-8 – both games in five innings. After losing their first two games of the season, the Lady Indians have won 16 straight.

"It was a good first game," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "We swung it and played well defensively,"

Freshman Sadie Kahl (Calgary, Alberta) pitched a two-hit shutout in Game 1 and sophomore Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) drove in six runs with a single, double and a home run.

The team from Goodland scored seven runs in the first two innings of Game 2 to tie the game at 7-7 but MCC scored four runs in the third, two in the fourth and three in the fifth.

"NWKT came out swinging in Game 2 and we weren't ready for it," said Mendenhall. "We need to clean up some base running and defensive mistakes before we start conference play."

Freshman Lexi Knapp (Berthoud, Colo.) went three-for-three with a home run and three RBIs in Game 2 and Anna Elliott went three-for-four with four RBIs.

"I am pretty happy with the way we are swinging it," said Mendenhall.

The Lady Mavericks fall to 0-16 on the season.

MCC improves to 16-2 and is now 8-0 at home.

The Lady Indians were scheduled to open Region IX play Friday againstthe defending Region IX champions, Northeastern Junior College. However those games have been postponed because of weather concerns and will be made up April 3 starting a 1 p.m. MCC and NJC (6-11) are scheduled to play to games Sunday at Sterling, Colo.

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 15, Northwest Kan. Tech 0: The Lady Indians scored three times in the first inning, three in the second, two in the third then seven in the fourth inning.

Lexi Knapp (Berthoud, Colo.) had a two-run single in the first inning. Andie Suhai drove in two with a double in the second and an RBI-single in the third inning. Laila Gutierrez (freshman, Seminole, Texas) drove home two with a fourth-inning single and two batters later, Suhai hit a three-run home run to left field to cap the scoring.

Sadie Kahl picked up the win in the pitching circle, she allowed two hits and didn't walk a batter in her five frames and struck out seven Lady Mavericks.

MCC had 10 hits with three by Suhai and two by sophomore Brylee Dean (Gering).

GAME 2 – McCook CC 16, Northwest Kan. Tech 8: The Lady Mavericks scored three runs in the first after two outs to go up 4-0. MCC's first seven batters in the bottom of the inning reached including a leadoff walk and six straight singles to lead 7-4.

NWKT tied the game with three more two-out hits in the second. Lexi Knapp started in the circle for MCC and allowed eight hits and five earned runs in two innings. She walked one and struck out four.

The game remained tied at 3-3 until the bottom of the third. Sophomore Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia), who relieved Knapp in the top of the inning started of the MCC third with a double. Following a single by Kendree Kern (freshman, LaSalle, Colo.) MCC took the lead for good on an RBI-ground out with Haylee Anguiano (freshman, Abilene, Kan.) batting. With two outs the Lady Indians got back-to-back, two-out hits from freshmen Angela Banzet (Surrey, British Columbia) and Anna Elliott and took an 11-7 lead on a wild pitch.

Knapp led off the fourth with a solo home run to left field and MCC added another to lead 13-8 then ended the game in the fifth with a leadoff double by Kaylee Smith (freshman, Calgary, Alberta), a walk, a two-run triple by Elliott and a wild pitch.

Covill-Marter picked up the win in the three-inning relief outing, allowing one earned run on one hit, one walk and five strikeouts. She also went three-for-three at the plate.

MCC also got three-hit games from Elliott and Knapp.