ODESSA, Texas – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team competed well against pre-season No. 3-ranked Odessa College on Saturday before falling twice on Sunday in Odessa, Texas.

                The first game saw Odessa grab a 4-0 lead before WNCC came back to slice come within 6-4 before falling 12-4.

                The second game saw Cougar pitchers Avery Fox and Caley Leslie combine on a one-hitter, but the Cougars managed just two hits themselves as Odessa earned the 3-0 win.

                The second game was a pitcher's dual as the teams had just three combined hits. WNCC's lone hits were singles by Victoria Wharton and DemiRae Woolsey, while Odessa's lone hit was a 2-run home run in the third inning for the 2-0 lead.

                Otherwise, the defenses and pitchers controlled things. Fox went the first four innings for the Cougars in facing 14 batters in allowing one hit and striking out one with one walk. Leslie tossed the final two innings in not allowing a hit and striking out two while giving up just one run.

                Odessa's pitcher Emily Brouse allowed just two hits, walking two, and striking out 13.

                Trailing 2-0, WNCC got their first hit in the top of fourth on a Wharton single. It wasn't until the sixth that the Cougars made a run to plate some runs. Baylie Krueger led off by reaching on an error. With two outs, Chloe Cronquist earned a walk and then DemiRae Woolsey recorded a single to load the bases. But WNCC couldn't get a run in.

                The first game between the two teams saw Odessa score three times in the first and one in the third to go up 4-0. WNCC added a single run in the fourth as Gox scored with Krueger getting the RBI make it 4-1.

                Odessa added two more in the fourth for a 6-1 lead. WNCC made a huge comeback in the fifth as Cronquist and Sianna Lewis reached base and then Fox slammed a 3-run home run, her first of the season, to make it 6-4. Odessa added three more runs in the fifth and sixth for the 12-4 final.

                Fox led the team with a 1-for-1 offensive attack with a home run and two runs scored and three RBIs. Cronquist also had two hits with a run scored.

Game 1
WNCC                   000 130 – 4 6 0
Odessa                 301 233 – 12 15 0
LP – DesaRae Woolsey.
2B – Chloe Cronquist, Sianna Lewis.
HR – Avery Fox.

Game 2
WNCC                   000 000 0 – 0 2 2
Odessa                 002 001 x – 3 1 1
LP – Avery Fox.