The Western Nebraska Community College baseball team captured a pair of Empire Conference wins Friday at Cleveland Field over Trinidad State College.

                The first game was a battle as Clayden Brandon went six strong innings and then Alex Renfrow got the save as the Cougars earned the 7-6 win.

                The second game saw Julian Garza go six strong innings and the Cougars earned the run-ruled 11-1 over the Trojans.

                The two teams will be back at Cleveland Field for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at noon.

                The wins moves the Cougars to 15-20 overall and 6-8 in the conference. WNCC is fifth in the conference standings, just a game out of fourth place.

                Garza, who scattered four hits and allowed just one run with five strikeouts, said the team is starting to find their groove.

                "The team played well today. Everything came together from the offense to the defense and the pitching," Garza said. "There was more energy in the second game. Everyone was up and getting everyone going."

                Garza said they need to bring that same type of energy Saturday as they aim to win the conference series with Trinidad.

                "The team is playing well right now," he said. "We just need to come out strong Saturday and play our style of baseball and get two more wins."

                The second game was a complete team win as Garza controlled the Trinidad batters with five strikeouts and getting them to hit groundouts or flyouts in his six innings of work. Austin Neeley finished off the game with an inning of work, allowing just one hit while facing three batters.

                WNCC scored three times in the first as Calab Caciari started things with a single. WNCC loaded the bases after two walks. Jin Kobayakawa plated the first two runs with a single and then Cooper Wilson scored the third run on a sacrifice fly.

                It stayed that way until the fourth when the Cougars plated one run as Austin Cooper tripled and scored two pitches later on  a passed ball for the 4-0 lead.

                Trinidad scored in the top of the fifth to make it 4-1, but the Cougars plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth on three singles and several walks and fielding errors for the 9-1 lead.

                The Cougars followed with a run in the sixth and seventh to end the game via the run-rule. The sixth saw WNCC load the bases with three walks and then Cooper scored the run with a sacrifice fly for the 10-1 lead.

                WNCC needed one run in the seventh to get the run rule and they got it. Kobayakawa tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Landon Lockwood to end the game.

                WNCC was led at the plate from Kobayakawa with a 3-for-3 game with a triple, three RBIs, and two runs scored. Cooper also had a triple while Kensei Oikawa had two RBIs and two runs scored.

                The first game plenty of scoring from both teams in the first two innings and then came down to defense. Trinidad opened the game with three runs but saw the Cougars answer with three of their own.

                Cooper Wilson started the first with a 2-out single. Kobayakawa then walked and Wilson scored on a Landon Lockwood single. Catcher Gladysh followed with a 2-run single to tie the game.

                Trinidad went back in front with a run in the second, only to watch WNCC score two in the second for a 5-4 lead. The second saw Jase Satterfield single followed by a Calab Caciari single. WNCC loaded the bases and Cooper Wilson doubled to score two runs.

                WNCC went up 7-4 with two in the fourth as Vaughn Wilson had a solo home run and then Lockwood would triple, scoring Cooper Wilson.

                The Cougars then allowed Trinidad to score single runs in the fifth and seventh, but Renfrow and shut the door for the win.

                WNCC had 13 hits in the win. Cooper Wilson led the way with a 4-for-4 plate appearance with two runs scored and two RBIs. Lockwood also had two hits with a triple and two RBIs.

                Brandon got the win, going six innings and scattering five hits, five runs and striking out 10. Alex Renfrow got the save, allowing a hit, a run, and striking out one.

Game 1
Trinidad             310 010 1 – 6 6 0
WNCC                320 200 x – 7 13 3
WP – Clayden Brandon; S – Alex Renfrow.
2B – Cooper Wilson.
3B – Landon Lockwood, Tucker Deal.
HR – Vaughn Wilson.

Game 2
Trinidad             000 010 0 – 1 5 1
WNCC                300 151 1 – 11 7 0
WP – Julian Garza.
3B – Austin Cooper, Jin Kobayakawa.