WNC Softball: Wildcats sweep Colorado Northwestern in doubleheader
Submitted by editor on Sat, 04/18/2015 - 6:28am
Western Nevada College Softball plays host to the Spartans of Colorado Northwestern Community College this weekend for a four game series at Edmonds Sports Complex in Carson City. The Wildcats came away from Friday's doubleheader, topping CNCC 8-0 and 11-3.
In the first match-up, Wildcats defense backed up pitcher Kristina George, who went the distance for WNC, allowing only one hit from the Spartans. Melanie Mecham led the 'Cats, going 4-4. She homered in the first inning, giving WNC an early lead. Lauren Lesniak (1-2) came up with a double in first, but the Wildcats were unable to capitalize on the hit. Mecham singled in the third, scoring on an unearned hit by Gabrielle Canibeyaz, and upping the score to 2-0, WNC.
In the fourth inning, Briauna Carter (1-2) singled, and scored on a series of Spartan throwing errors, and in the fifth, the WIldcats widened their lead when Katilyn Covione walked, and Makaylee Jaussi (1-3) doubled. Both runners scored on a single by Mecham. L. Lesniak and Carter were then walked to load the bases, and a single by Pamela Sakuma (1-2) scored Mecham and Samantha Bell, who was pinch running for Lesniak. 7-0 WNC.
In the sixth, Jaussi walked, and ultimately scored on a single by Mecham to end the game, 8-0, Wildcats.
Of the Wildcats shutout, Coach Leah Wentworth said, "Kristina had a great outing. Anytime a pitcher can hold a team to one hit, that's notable. She's been getting stronger as the season progresses and it shows."
Wentworth said the team did a good job of capitalizing on opportunities, "we were aggressive on the bases and we executed well on the things we've been working on."
In the second game, pitcher Nicole Lesniak started for the Wildcats, she threw three innings and was replaced by Dakota Robinson. Mecham (3-4) maintained her momentum with a double in the first inning. N. Lesniak singled in the second inning. Bell came in to run for N. Lesniak and scored on a single by Sakuma (2-3). Bailey Henderson (2-3) singled, and Mecham reached on an error, scoring Sakuma. After two innings, 2-0, WNC.
In the third, Kacie Freudenberger (2-3) walked and scored when Carter (1-3) reached on an error. 3-0, WNC. In the fourth, the Wildcats were unable to capitalize on singles by Jaussi (2-4) and Mecham.
The Spartans scored one run in the fifth, prompting the Wildcats to bring George in to pitch for Robinson. CNCC scored two more and knotted the score, 3-3, before WNC could retire the side. Freudenberger and Carter singled in the bottom of the inning, but couldn't convert them to runs.
The Wildcats came alive in the sixth. Sakuma and Henderson singled, and Sakuma scored on a double by Jaussi. A double by Mecham scored Henderson and Jaussi. Canibeyaz then reached on an error to score Mecham. Fruedenberger doubled scoring Canibeyaz, and Carter reached on an error, scoring Britni Greninger (pinch running for L. Lesniak) and Freudenburger. George (1-2) singled, and Henderson singled scoring Carter to end the game in six innings, WNC 11-3.
Games continue at noon and 2 p.m., Saturday at Edmonds Sports Complex, 1555 Livermore Lane.
