MCC Baseball opens season with a split in Monday games

IRVING, Texas – The McCook Community College opened the season Monday splitting a pair of games. MCC downed North Lake College 4-3 in the opening game then lost an 8-2 decision to Murray State College.

"Obviously it was good to get the win in Game 1 to start the season, and win a tight one," said MCC Coach Jon Olsen.

Sophomores Cade Webber (Kelowna, British Columbia) and Owen Lester (St. Charles, Ill.) teamed up on the mound to limit North Lake to three hits in the opening game. In the second game against Murray State scored in five of seven innings and Aggie pitchers limited MCC bats to three hits in the game.

"We just didn't do anything right early in Game 2 and gave up too many free passes and too many errors," said Olsen.

Weather permitting, MCC 1-1 will be back in action Tuesday with a pair of games starting at noon against North Lake followed by a game against Murray State College.

GAME 1 – McCook CC 4, North Lake 3: MCC took the early lead and never trailed.

Freshman Blake Dale (Riverton, Wyo.) led off for MCC and doubled in his first collegiate at bat, later scoring on a two-out single off the bat of sophomore Josh Maysonave (Austin, Texas). In the second, back-to-back one-out doubles by sophomores Trent Elshire (Plattsmouth) and Alliskair Descartes (Thornton, Colo.) made it 2-0.

The Blazers tied it up 2-2 with two runs in the third but MCC responded with a pair of runs in the fourth on an RBI double from freshman Michael Quick (Oshawa, Ontario) who later scored on a wild pitch to put MCC up 4-2. North Lake scored a run in the fourth.

Neither team was able to score over the final three innings.

Sophomore Cade Webber (Kelowna, British Columbia) started on the mound for MCC and picked up the win. Over four innings he surrendered no hits, five walks and had six strikeouts. Sophomore Owen Lester (St. Charles, Ill.) pitched three innings of scoreless relief to pick up the save. He allowed three hits, one walk and fanned four.

"Owen did a great job the last three innings following a good start by Cade Webber," said Olsen. "It was a tough day to hit but we put quite a few good swings on it."

MCC had eight hits in the game including doubles by Dale, Elshire, Quick and Descartes.

GAME 2 – Murray State College 8, McCook CC 2: The Aggies opened the game with a run in the top of the first off freshman starter, Ethan Badcock (Adelade, Australia). MCC put runners on first and third with one out in the first, but didn't capitalize.

"We just didn't put ourselves in position to even compete in the game early, especially on defense," said Olsen.

MSC added four runs in the second with three of those unearned, then added two more in the third to take a 7-0 lead. The Aggies added a single run in the Fifth and sixth inning. Badcock went three innings, allowing one earned run, two walks and he struck out three hitters.

Sophomore Jelle Bing (Heerhagoaard, Netherlands) came on in relief in the fourth inning and pitched three innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit, two walks and two strikeouts. Freshman William Coe (North Platte, Neb.) pitched the final inning of scoreless relief.

"We did get some strong work out of the bullpen," said Olsen.

Down 8-0 in the sixth, MCC pushed across two runs on a walk, a double by sophomore Ethan Murdoch (Swift Current, Saskatchewan). Two runs scored on a single by freshman Jason Serafinchon (Spruce Grove, Alberta). Murdoch had two hits, Serafinchon and Michael Quick one each.

"We just need to get into the game better with our starter and defense, then when you are in a tight one you can give yourself a chance offensively," Olsen said.

MCC committed five errors in the game.