WNC Softball: Wildcats remain alive in Region XVIII tourney
Submitted by editor on Thu, 05/07/2015 - 4:59pm
Western Nevada College Softball secured a fourth-place seat in the NJCAA Region XVIII Tournament, which continues through Saturday, May 9 at Salt Lake Community College. In the first tournament game the Wildcats faced Snow College who entered the tournament in fifth place. As the higher seed in the tournament, WNC secured the home team advantage.
Snow's home run hits kept the pressure on the Wildcats, and it took extra innings for a winner to prevail. WNC ultimately topped Snow, 6-5, in eight innings. Pitcher Kristina George went the distance for the 'Cats to earn the win. She faced 32 batters, struck out five and gave up five hits.
The Wildcats of Carson City were on the board in the second inning when Kacie Freudenberger singled and scored on a single by Kelsie Callahan. Makaylee Jaussi led off the third inning with a solo home run. 2-0, WNC.
Snow knotted it up in the fourth with a two-run homer by Karlee Manzione. WNC answered with a single by Katilyn Covione that scored Briauna Carter who was walked. 3-2 WNC.
In the sixth inning, Snow's Manzione struck again with a two-run homer, putting Snow on top, 4-3.
WNC knotted the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth when Carter singled and scored on Freudenberger's pop out to center.
In the seventh inning, Snow's Mariah Peterson delivered a solo home run, edging them ahead of the Wildcats. WNC fought back to push the game into extra innings. Pamela Sakuma walked and Freudenberger knocked a double. A single by Carter knotted the score at 5-5.
In the final inning Jaussi singled and scored on a single by Melanie Mecham for a 6-5 Wildcats win.
Coach Leah Wentworth said her team played their best game of the season. "We never lost our fight. We stayed mentally tough, and even when Snow came up with big hits, we still stayed focused."
"Kristina did a good job for us, just as she has all season."
The win advanced the Wildcats to face top-ranked Salt Lake Community College in their second tournament game. The Bruins came out strong, knocking three runs in the first inning. They maintained their lead the entire game, putting up two more in the fourth, one in the fifth and two in the sixth to take the win, 8-0 in six innings. The Bruins held the Wildcats to only one hit, a single by Mecham.
Kristina George took the loss for WNC. She faced 30 batters, struck out one, and gave up 10 hits.
The Wildcats drop to the loser bracket and will face the Colorado Northwestern Community College at 9:30 a.m. MT.
