(I've highlighted the really interesting bits!)
Posted: Saturday, April 28, 2012 11:58 pm | Updated: 11:59 pm, Sat Apr 28, 2012.
The Western Nebraska Community College softball team picked up its 40th win of the season Saturday, shutting down Garden City Community College in a doubleheader at Volunteer Field.
Aria Agle recorded a grand slam in game one, leading the Cougars to a 7-0 win. In the second contest, Amanda Jones tossed a three-hitter in leading the Cougars to a 10-0 win. Saturday’s event was used as a fundraiser for the Scleroderma Foundation. A jersey auction brought in $1,795 for the foundation.
The teams will be back in action today in another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. It will be the final home and regular-season games for WNCC’s six sophomores.
Agle, who connected on her second grand slam of the season, said the Cougars played well as a unit Saturday.
“We saw the ball, hit the ball, and played defense. When we didn’t make a play, we picked each other up on the next play,” the sophomore from Mapleton, Utah, said. “Our pitchers have done really well lately, and we are backing them up with hits, and that is really important. It gives them confidence.”
In the two wins, the Cougars combined for 17 runs on 16 hits, including three home runs and a triple. The Cougars have now won 11 straight games.
“This is a perfect time to peak with regionals coming up,” Agle said. “We are able to string things together. They say hitting is contagious, so we are making that true.”
WNCC flexed its offensive muscles late in the game. The Cougars led 1-0 after two innings after Agle doubled in Kasey Cash.
Cash came back in the fourth inning with a lead-off home run to centerfield to give WNCC a 2-0 lead.
WNCC opened up the game in the fifth as Agle smashed her second grand slam of the season, scoring Cash, Duran and Shalese Connary for a 6-0 lead.
Agle said she was patient and found her pitch to hit.
“I was just looking for something in my zone,” she said. “I saw it, and I just swung, hoping it was a line drive. It just so happens it went out. I am not a home-run hitter, but apparently I like to hit in clutch situations.”
The final run came after Sarah Hawryluk singled, stole second and then scored on a passed ball.
Agle was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, four RBIs, and a run scored. Cash scored three times.
Bianca Duran picked up the win in the circle, going seven innings, scattering six hits, striking out two and walking just one.
The Cougars continued their hot hitting in the second game, ripping seven hits. It didn’t take long for the Cougars to set the tone, scoring five runs in the first inning and three in the second to grab an 8-0 lead.
The big first-inning hit came from Gabi Palaxios, who had a three-run triple. In the second inning, the Cougars scored all their runs with two outs as Mariah Shepherd doubled to score two runs and then Cash singled to score another run.
WNCC added its final two runs in the fourth. Bianca Duran led off with a single, and Jocelyn Stubbs then ripped a two-run home run over centerfield.
Shepherd and Cash led the team at the plate, both going 2-for-3. Shepherd had two runs scored, two RBIs and a double, while Cash had three RBIs and a run scored.
Jones tossed another strong game, going five innings, allowing just three hits, walking one, and striking out three.
First Game
Garden CIty 000 000 0 — 0 6 2
WNCC 010 141 x — 7 9 1
WP — Bianca Duran; 2B — Aria Agle; HR — Agle, Kasey Cash.
Second Game
Garden City 000 00 — 0 3 1
WNCC (40-24) 530 2x — 10 7 1
WP — Amanda Jones; 2B — Mariah Shepherd; 3B — Gabi Shepherd; HR — Jocelyn Stubbs.
Aria Agle recorded a grand slam in game one, leading the Cougars to a 7-0 win. In the second contest, Amanda Jones tossed a three-hitter in leading the Cougars to a 10-0 win. Saturday’s event was used as a fundraiser for the Scleroderma Foundation. A jersey auction brought in $1,795 for the foundation.
Agle, who connected on her second grand slam of the season, said the Cougars played well as a unit Saturday.
“We saw the ball, hit the ball, and played defense. When we didn’t make a play, we picked each other up on the next play,” the sophomore from Mapleton, Utah, said. “Our pitchers have done really well lately, and we are backing them up with hits, and that is really important. It gives them confidence.”
In the two wins, the Cougars combined for 17 runs on 16 hits, including three home runs and a triple. The Cougars have now won 11 straight games.
“This is a perfect time to peak with regionals coming up,” Agle said. “We are able to string things together. They say hitting is contagious, so we are making that true.”
WNCC flexed its offensive muscles late in the game. The Cougars led 1-0 after two innings after Agle doubled in Kasey Cash.
Cash came back in the fourth inning with a lead-off home run to centerfield to give WNCC a 2-0 lead.
WNCC opened up the game in the fifth as Agle smashed her second grand slam of the season, scoring Cash, Duran and Shalese Connary for a 6-0 lead.
Agle said she was patient and found her pitch to hit.
“I was just looking for something in my zone,” she said. “I saw it, and I just swung, hoping it was a line drive. It just so happens it went out. I am not a home-run hitter, but apparently I like to hit in clutch situations.”
The final run came after Sarah Hawryluk singled, stole second and then scored on a passed ball.
Agle was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, four RBIs, and a run scored. Cash scored three times.
Bianca Duran picked up the win in the circle, going seven innings, scattering six hits, striking out two and walking just one.
The Cougars continued their hot hitting in the second game, ripping seven hits. It didn’t take long for the Cougars to set the tone, scoring five runs in the first inning and three in the second to grab an 8-0 lead.
The big first-inning hit came from Gabi Palaxios, who had a three-run triple. In the second inning, the Cougars scored all their runs with two outs as Mariah Shepherd doubled to score two runs and then Cash singled to score another run.
WNCC added its final two runs in the fourth. Bianca Duran led off with a single, and Jocelyn Stubbs then ripped a two-run home run over centerfield.
Shepherd and Cash led the team at the plate, both going 2-for-3. Shepherd had two runs scored, two RBIs and a double, while Cash had three RBIs and a run scored.
Jones tossed another strong game, going five innings, allowing just three hits, walking one, and striking out three.
First Game
Garden CIty 000 000 0 — 0 6 2
WNCC 010 141 x — 7 9 1
WP — Bianca Duran; 2B — Aria Agle; HR — Agle, Kasey Cash.
Second Game
Garden City 000 00 — 0 3 1
WNCC (40-24) 530 2x — 10 7 1
WP — Amanda Jones; 2B — Mariah Shepherd; 3B — Gabi Shepherd; HR — Jocelyn Stubbs.
And here I thought a grand slam was some sort of breakfast! WAY TO GO, Aria, you're a STAH!! WOOHOO!!!!!
ReplyDeleteRuth
Just need 3 or 4 more wins to make this one very good season!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, one down, 3 to go!
ReplyDelete