LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball team put together a complete performance in earning a conference sweep over Otero College Sunday in La Junta, Colorado.
The Cougars scored nine runs in the first inning of game one as they coasted to the 16-5 win. The second game saw WNCC come back from a 4-2 deficit to plate three runs in the sixth and seventh innings to claim the 8-4 win.
WNCC won all four games against Otero over the weekend. The last time the Cougars swept the Rattlers in a four-game series was 2017-18 and it was by almost the same scores. In 2017-18, WNCC outscored Otero 49-18 and this weekend, the Cougars outscored the Rattlers 52-18.
The second game on Sunday saw a masterful pitching performance from Mia Migliaccio, who went 6 2/3 innings in allowing just one hit, one run, one walk, and striking out 12. The 12 strikeouts are the most by a Cougar pitcher since 2019 when Emma McMillan struck out 15 against McCook.
The two wins push the Cougars' record to 14-22 overall and 7-13 in conference play. WNCC will next be in action this weekend when they travel to Lamar Community College.
Adi Duke, who had the tying two-run home run in the sixth inning of game two, said they had the will to win in that comeback win.
"We fell behind in the second game and stopped pushing runners across," Duke said. "In those final two innings I think we all had a want to win and weren't complacent with the idea of dropping a game after winning three. When the job needed to be done, we focused in on scoring again by staying within ourselves and working together to get those runs."
Duke said the team needed wins like this weekend to get that mojo back.
"The team played very well and cohesively to secure these wins. It's no secret that we have been in a drought the past couple games, but coming out with a fire and a need to take four pushed us to success," Duke said. "Our pitchers did a great job this weekend and were key in shutting down Otero's offense. On top of that, stringing hits together was huge. Having our bats on to back up our pitchers and allowing them to play loose was big."
Tori Travers, who hammered three home runs and had 13 RBIs in the four games this weekend, said the key to the wins was their plate appearances and working as a unit on the field.
"The team did very well leading with our bats and having very solid defense throughout this weekend," Travers said. "The team worked as a unit and combined our skill to sweep Otero. When the bats were not hot in game four, we were able to have good D and pitching rocked it this weekend."
Game two saw WNCC start quickly in game two with a run in the first as Abbey Arntsen singled home Tina Horton with the first run of the game. Otero came right back with three in the first and one in the second for a 4-2 lead. Neither team scored again until the Cougars made a rally in the sixth and seventh.
In the sixth inning, Jasmine Castro led off with a single followed by Duke's first-pitch two-run home to tie the game at 4-4. WNCC took the lead moments later as Viktoria Sarkanyova singled and scored on an Alyssa Albaugh sacrifice for the 5-4 lead.
WNCC added three more in the seventh when Horton singled and scored after stealing second and scoring on the error. WNCC scored its second run when Castron doubled home Travers. Castro scored the final run on a Duke sacrifice fly.
WNCC outhit Otero 10-5, led by Castro with a 3-for-4 performance with a double and two runs scored. Sarkanyova also had two hits, while Duke had that tying home run along with three RBIs.
The first game saw the Cougars plate nine runs in the first inning, and all nine runs came with two outs. WNCC had five hits and took advantage of four walks. The big hit was a Travers triple that scored two runs for an 8-0 lead. Travers later scored to make it 9-0 after one.
Otero scored just one in their half of the first, but the Cougars' offense continued to sizzle, scoring two in the second, one in the third and four in the fourth. The fourth inning saw Travers blast a 3-run home run for the 16-1 lead.
WNCC had 10 hits in the contest, led by Travers and Arntsen each with three hits. Travers was a double shy of hitting for the cycle as the Sammamish, Washington, native went 3-for-4 with a single, triple, home run, three runs scored, and six RBIs.
Arntsen had three singles in the contest. Castro and Horton each finished with two hits. Castro had three runs scored with two RBIs, while Horton had a double with three runs scored and two RBIs.
Gracie Holm got the win in the circle, scattering six hits, allowing five runs and striking out seven.
WNCC will hope to continue their hot bats going this weekend as they head to Lamar. Duke and Travers said they need to play their game to get wins next weekend.
"We need to stay within ourselves, and work counts in our ABs," Travers said. "Our team's focus plays better when we slow it down and play our game. I believe we will be good if we work together like we did in this series and in previous games."
Game 1
WNCC 921 40 – 16 10 3
Otero 100 40 – 5 6 7
WP – Gracie Holm.
2B – Tina Horton.
3B – Tori Travers.
HR – Tori Travers.
Game 2
WNCC 110 003 3 – 8 10 2
Otero 310 000 0 – 4 5 2
WP – Mia Migliaccio.
2B – Hayley Blumenschein, Jasmine Castro.
HR – Adi Duke.