MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College won the last three games of a four-game set with McCook Community College, including sweeping Friday's final two games on the road.

                The Cougars never trailed in game one as Arthur Saumande tossed five strong innings in the 12-3 win. The second game saw WNCC score six first-inning runs and never look back for the 14-4 win.

                WNCC moves to 14-10 in the Empire Conference standings and 22-29 overall. McCook falls to 17-7 in conference play and 38-13 overall. Both teams have four games left to wrap up the regular season. WNCC has conference-leading Northeastern Junior College (20-4) with single games on the road on Thursday and Saturday and a doubleheader at Cleveland Field on Friday. McCook has four road games at Southeast Community College (15-9 in conference).

                Both games Friday were solid performances all the way around. Game one saw Saumande go five innings while scattering three hits, allowing two runs, and striking out five. Peyton Markheim finished off the game with two innings of work, allowing three hits, one run, and striking out three.

                Offensively, WNCC had 11 hits with just one extra base hit, a triple by Ty Beutner. Harrison Hart and Cooper Wilson each had three hits. Hart had two RBIs with a run scored, while Wilson scored three times with an RBI.

                WNCC got one in the first as Hart had a two-out single to plate Daniel Chavez. The Cougars added four more in the third for a 5-0 lead.  WNCC got three straight run-scoring singles from Hart, Wilson, and Jase Satterfield to key the inning.

                McCook finally plated a run in the third, but the Cougars' offense continued to stay hot, scoring two in the fifth, four in the sixth, and one in the seventh for their 12 runs. McCook could only manage single runs in the third, fifth, and seventh innings.

                WNCC built off the first game right away in the second contest, scoring six times in the first on six hits. Dakota Alber scored the first run on a Will Harbison single, and Vaughn Wilson scored the final two runs with a two-run single.

                Both teams scored a single run in the third to give the Cougars a 7-1 lead. WNCC finished off the nine-inning game by scoring in three of the last four innings. WNCC scored four in the seventh to go up 12-1. Vaughn Wilson led off the frame with a solo home run. With two outs, Catcher Gladysh doubled and scored on a Harbison single. Harrison Hart then blasted a two-run home run.

                McCook needed to score at least two runs to keep the game going and they did, plating three runs to avoid being run-ruled in seven innings. WNCC added two insurance runs in the ninth for the 14-4 win.

                WNCC finished the contest with 17 hits, including a 4-for-4 performance from Hart, who had a home run, four RBIs, and three runs scored. Cooper Wilson had three hits with three RBIs.

                Vaughn Wilson, Alber, Gladysh, and Harbison all had two hits each. Gladysh had three runs scored with a double.

Game 1
WNCC                104 024 1 – 12 11 2
McCook             001 010 1 – 3 6 5
WP – Arthur Saumande.
3B – Ty Beutner.

Game 2
WNCC                601 001 402 – 14 17 5
McCook             001 000 300 – 4 7 3
WP – Allard Helms.
2B – Catcher Gladysh, Payton Denny.
HR – Harrison Hart, Vaughn Wilson.