WNC Softball: Coyotes Hold Off Wildcats Twice in DH Sweep
With three losses by two runs or less in two days, the Western Nevada College softball team didn't have much to show for a well-played softball series at rival College of Southern Nevada.
The Coyotes rallied from a three-run deficit to complete a Scenic West Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of the Wildcats on Saturday in Henderson. Rebekka Gross' solo homer — the Coyotes' third of the game — was the difference as CSN won the second game, 5-4. CSN took the opening game, 6-4, holding off a late charge by the Wildcats of Carson City.
In the second game, WNC jumped out to a 3-0 lead by scoring once in the first inning and two more in the second. But CSN tied the score with a three-run scoring flurry in the third inning and went ahead with a run in the fourth.
Lauren Lesniak's sacrifice fly put WNC on top 1-0 in the first. Pamela Sakuma scored on a passed ball in the second, and Melanie Mecham's base hit plated Briauna Carter to put WNC ahead 3-0.
Dacia Sykes' solo homer capped a three-run CSN rally in the third. Amber Raab's fourth-inning homer put CSN in front for the first time, 4-3.
WNC pushed across the tying run in the sixth when Dakota Robinson scored an unearned run on an infield error.
The Wildcats totaled eight hits. Mecham was 2 for 4 with a run scored and a RBI. Lesniak was 2 for 3 with a RBI.
The loss went to freshman Kristina George, who relieved Kaitlyn Jimmy in the fourth inning. George gave up two hits, one being the game-deciding homer, and struck out one and walked one in 2 2/3 innings.
George (7-3), who threw a two-hit shutout on Friday, also took the loss in Saturday's opener. The right-hander gave up nine hits and five earned runs.
WNC outhit CSN, 10-9, as Gabriella Canibeyaz went 3 for 4 with two RBI and Mecham was 2 for 4.
The Wildcats fell behind 6-1 but in the fourth inning but scored once in the fifth and twice in the seventh to put pressure on the Coyotes. In the fifth inning, Canibeyaz's base hit brought home Makaylee Jaussi to pull WNC within 6-2. In the seventh, Canibeyaz doubled and combined with an error, WNC's Jaussi and Mecham crossed the plate to reduce CSN's lead to 6-4.
But Kristina Nelson retired the next three Wildcat hitters to secure the win. WNC (14-15 overall and 9-10 in the SWAC) travels to College of Southern Idaho to start the second half of the conference season with doubleheaders Friday and Saturday.