MCC Softball wins twice over Hastings College JV

The McCook Community College softball team got back on the winning track with a pair of wins over the Hastings College JV Tuesday at home. MCC won 11-2 and 8-0. Both games were called on the eight-run rule in the fifth inning.

"These were good rebound games for us to get our confidence back," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "Our pitchers did a better job of competing in the zone."

Freshman Ayana Goodwin (Broomfield, Colo.) had three hits and sophomore Brylee Dean (Gering), homered in Game 1 with two RBIs and freshman Laila Gutierrez (Seminole, Texas) hit a two-run triple to drive in two runs. Freshman Lexi Knapp (Berthoud, Colo.) picked up the win in the circle striking out five.

The Lady Indians led just 2-0 batting in the fifth inning of Game 2 then scored six runs to polish off the combined one-hit shutout by freshman Sadie Kahl (Calgary, Alberta) and sophomore Ella Covill-Marter (Queensland, Australia). Sophomore Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) homered twice in the game. Freshman Anna Elliott (Calgary, Alberta) hit a solo home run.

"We did what we were supposed to do today," said Mendenhall. "Now we need to carry that confidence over to Luna this weekend."

MCC, 18-4, will travel to Las Vegas, N.M. this weekend for a four-game Region IX series against Luna Community College. The Rough Riders are 13-14 on the season and 1-3 in Region IX. That series starts Saturday.

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 11, Hastings College JV 2: The Broncos scored two runs in the first inning on four straight singles to take a 2-0 lead.

Ayana Goodwin singled with one out in the bottom of the first, stole second base, went to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch. MCC took a 5-2 lead in the second inning, highlighted by a two-run triple by Laila Gutierrez.

The Lady Indians added a run in the third on a solo home run by Brylee Dean, then took a 7-2 lead in the fourth on a double by Sadie Kahl and an RBI-single by Dean.

MCC closed out the game with four runs in the fifth inning. Freshman Kendree Kern (LaSalle, Colo.) led off the inning with a single. After a walk and an out, Gutierrez singled to load the bases. The Lady Indians got a two-run single from Goodwin and ended the game on the eight-run rule with a two run double by Lexi Knapp.

Goodwin led the 11-hit MCC offense with three hits. Dean and Gutierrez both had two-hit, two RBI-games.

Knapp picked up the win in the pitching circle. She surrendered six hits, one walk and no earned runs in five innings. She struck out five.

GAME 2 – McCook CC 8, Hastings College JV 0: Andie Suhai (Medicine Hat, Alberta) hit a two-out solo homer to put MCC up 1-0 in the first. Anna Elliott hit a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning to put MCC in front 2-0.

Sadie Kahl pitched the first three innings for MCC allowing one hit, two walks and struck out five Broncos.

After a leadoff single by freshman Angela Banzet (Surrey, British Columbia) in the MCC fifth, Suhai smacked her second home run of the game to put MCC up 4-0.  After an out Elliott reached base on a single and after a Brylee Dean walk, the Lady Indians got an RBI-single from Ella Covill-Marter, a two-run double from sophomore Kalyn Jackson (Highlands Ranch, Colo.). The game ended when Jackson scored on a Bronco error.

Covill-Marter picked up the two-inning save striking out all six of the batters she faced.

Elliott led MCC with three hits in three at bats. Suhai, Banzet and Covill-Marther both had two-hit games.