MCC Softball sweeps Dawson to open spring-break trip

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The McCook Community College softball team opened up the spring break trip Tuesday with a pair of wins over Dawson Community College (Montana). MCC took advantage of three Buccaneer errors to score eight unearned runs in a 13-8 win in the opener and broke open a 2-1 game in the fifth inning of the second game with five runs to score a 7-1 win.

Down 8-7 in the opening game's fourth inning, a Dawson error led to three runs and MCC got seventh- inning home runs from Paige Smith (freshman Perth, Australia) and Ashland Baca (sophomore, Byers, Colo.) to help preserve the win.

The five-run fifth inning in Game 2 backed the five-hit complete game performance for sophomore Anna Wilcox (Victoria, British Columbia)

Dawson CC came into the day 4-0 but had not played a game since Feb. 12.

MCC improves to 11-7 on the season.

The spring break trip continues Wednesday with games against South Mountain Community College (16-10) and Thursday against Phoenix College. The Bears are 19-3 and ranked co-No. 1 this week in the NJCAA Division II Top 25 poll this week (they are tied with Des Moines Area CC).

Last Season Phoenix won the Division II national championship for the ninth time in school history and the third time in four years. The Bears' nine national titles (all since 2000) lead all NJCAA Division II schools.

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

GAME 1 – McCook CC 13, Dawson CC 8: MCC broke out on top with three first-inning runs with back-to-back-to-back RBI singles from Paige Smith, Rae VanMilligan (sophomore, Marion, Iowa) and Sydney Erlandson (freshman, Woodbury, Minn.).

The Buccaneers responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 3-3 then scored three more runs in the second to lead 6-3 off MCC starter Avery O'Neil (sophomore, Ellsworth, Wis.). She went two innings, allowed four hits, walked six and gave up five earned runs.

MCC tied the game in the third thanks in part to a two-out three-run Dawson error. Tyler Mooring (freshman, Santa Clara, Utah) put MCC up 7-6 on an RBI-single.

Smith came on in relief in the bottom of the third inning and the Bucs reclaimed the lead scoring two runs on three hits.

Trailing 8-7 MCC took the lead for good in the fourth inning. With two outs, MCC once again took advantage of a Buc error to extend the inning seven batters. An RBI-double from Madisyn Simms (freshman, Port Moody, British Columbia) tied the game. She was followed in the order with singles Taylor Thein (sophomore, West Branch, Iowa), Nevaeh Ogden (freshman, Littleton, Colo.), and a pair of walks.

Smith kept Dawson off the scoreboard in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. She pitched four innings, allowed two earned runs on six hits, three walks and a strikeout. MCC put the game out of reach in the seventh with back-to-back home runs from Smith and Baca to lead off the frame and a two-out error brought home two more runs.

Anna Wilcox (sophomore, Victoria, British Columbia) came on to strike out all three of the hitters she faced in the seventh inning to preserve the win.

MCC had 16 hits in the game with three from Ogden in the leadoff spot and two-hit games by Baca, Smith, Erlandson, Simms and Thein.

GAME 2 – McCook CC 7, Dawson CC 1: As the visiting team in the second game, Dawson took a 1-0 lead when the leadoff hitter tripled and came home with a one-out single off Anna Wilcox.

The Buccaneers led until MCC pushed across a pair of runs in the third inning. After a pair of walks and a Dawson CC error, an Ashland Baca sacrifice fly tied the game and a two-out RBI single from Rae VanMilligan (sophomore, Marion, Iowa) put MCC up 2-1.

Alexis Cortez (sophomore, Arvada, Colo.) doubled to lead off the fifth inning, Cassidy Fife (freshman, Provo, Utah) singled her to third, Baca singled home Cortez, and Paige Smith doubled home Fife. A bases-loaded walk brought home Baca to put MCC up 5-1. Taylor Thein (sophomore, West Branch, Iowa) delivered an RBI-single and with two out Cortez capped the scoring with a bases-loaded walk.

Wilcox went the distance allowing five hits and no walks. She struck out four.

MCC had nine hits in the game with two each from Baca and Smith.