MCC Softball opens season with split against Colby

The McCook Community College softball team scored five runs in the sixth inning of Game 2 Monday on the way to the team's first win of the 2022 season, MCC took Game 2 by the score of 11-8 after dropping the first game of the day 7-5.

"I'm very proud of the team and the way they continued to battle," said MCC Coach Kevin Kaalberg. "It was a good learning opportunity for the players."

Sophomore Rae VanMilligan (sophomore, Marion, Iowa) started the season out with seven hits on the afternoon in eight trips to the plate. Ashland Baca (sophomore, Byers, Colo.) doubled and homered in the first game and freshmen pitchers Tyler Mooring (Santa Clara, Utah) and Paige Smith (Perth, Australia) combined to pick up the win in Game 2.

"I was very happy with the way they all stayed engaged and really supported each other," Kaalberg said.

MCC is 1-1 on the season and Kaalberg said he is trying to add a doubleheader at home on Thursday and is hoping to confirm that Tuesday.

Colby goes to 3-1 on the season.

GAME 1: Colby 7, McCook 5 – Colby used a three-run third inning to take a 4-1 lead and stretched it to 7-1 with a three-run fourth inning and held on for the win.

MCC took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Alexis Cortez (sophomore, Arvada, Colo.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and came home on a two-out double from Ashland Baca (sophomore, Byers, Colo.).

Down 7-1 in the fourth, MCC responded with a three-run inning. Nevaeh Ogden (freshman, Littleton, Colo.) delivered a one-out triple and came home on an RBI single by Cortez. With two outs, MCC plated two runs on a walk and two Colby errors.

Baca homered to left field to lead off the seventh inning and make it a 7-5 game. A Colby error brought the tying run to the plate with no outs but MCC was unable to put the ball in play the rest of the inning.

Anna Wilcox (sophomore, Victoria, British Columbia) started the game and went 3.1 innings and was charged with all the Colby runs on 10 hits. Paige Smith (freshman Perth, Australia) came on over the final 3.2 innings and allowed three hits, one walk, no runs and she struck out one.

MCC had nine hits with three from Rae VanMilligan and two each from Ogden and Baca.

GAME 2: McCook 11, Colby 8 – Colby held a 3-1 lead until the fourth inning when MCC scored five times to take a 6-3 lead.

Madisyn Simms (freshman, Port Moody, British Columbia) led off the MCC fourth with a double and scored on an RBI single from Madison Morlett (freshman, Dallas, Ga.). Tyler Thein tied the game 3-3 win an RBI single and MCC added runs on a Colby error and a two-out single from Rae VanMilligan.

Colby regained the lead in the fifth in part because of MCC errors. MCC starting pitcher Tyler Mooring went 4.1 innings and struck out five, allowing three earned runs as Colby regained the lead 8-6.

VanMilligan helped ignite the offense in the bottom of the sixth doubling in Nevaeh Ogden         (freshman, Littleton, Colo.) who'd reached on a one-out hit by pitch. After two Colby walks loaded the bases, Simms put MCC on top with a two-run single and Morlett doubled in two more.

Smith pitched the final 2.2 innings and held Colby to one unearned runs on three hits, and no walks. She struck out two.

VanMilligan went four-for-four with three RBIs, Morlett doubled twice with three RBIs, and Sims and Thein both had two hits in the game.

For all the up-to-date information on MCC softball this season including, schedules, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at: https://mccookcc.prestosports.com/landing/index