WNC Softball: Wildcats leave CSN tournament with three wins
Submitted by editor on Sat, 01/30/2016 - 7:05pm
Western Nevada College's softball team can depart its first preseason tournament knowing that it can compete with some of the top programs in the country.
After upsetting ninth-ranked Pima Community College on Friday, the Wildcats of Carson City nearly took down second-ranked Eastern Arizona, losing 6-5 in the College of Southern Nevada Kickoff Classic on Saturday in Henderson. The Wildcats followed the one-run loss with an 8-7 victory over Central Arizona. They opened the tournament's second day with an 8-7 eight-inning defeat to Yavapai College.
"We battled really well against some of the top teams," said WNC coach Leah Wentworth. "We haven't been able to get that much work in on the field, but we're right there offensively against the teams we've come across."
WNC built a three-run edge against Eastern Arizona, but several fielding errors brought the Monsters back into the game. After the Monsters went ahead in the seventh, WNC had the potential tying run on second base when the game ended.
Briauna Carter and Makaylee Jaussi provided two hits apiece, while Melanie Mecham and Samantha Bell each delivered a hit. Kaitlyn Jimmy pitched the distance and took the loss.
After absorbing back-to-back one-run defeats, the Wildcats earned a close win of their own. WNC rallied from a 5-0 deficit to edge Central Arizona by a run.
Sophomore outfielder Triniece Lesky slammed a pair of doubles and knocked in four runs to make a winner of Jimmy, who relieved Kristina George.
"Kaitlyn did a great job," Wentworth said. "She was in the circle a lot for us today."
In their early game on Saturday, the Wildcats rallied from a five-run deficit on the strength of three homers, but Yavapai pushed across a tie-breaking run in the eighth inning to earn the win.
After falling behind 7-2 through four innings, WNC erupted for five runs in the fifth. Two-run homers by Carter and Chelsea Latu brought the Wildcats even.
However, Yavapai used the international tiebreaker to score the winning run in the eighth. Andrea Sotelo's base hit with no outs scored Nicole Matta with the deciding run.
"It was a good battle," Wentworth said. "They were even keel throughout the game and trusted that their sticks, that with time they would have their opportunities."
Dustie Durham blasted two homers and knocked in four runs for Yavapai.
Jaussi and Noa Talia topped the Wildcats with three hits. Talia crushed her first homer of the season - a solo shot in the second inning - and scored three runs. Gabrielle Canibeyaz smacked a pair of hits.
Jimmy relieved George in the fourth inning and limited Yavapai to five hits and an earned run. She took the loss.
WNC's 1-2 record on Saturday leaves it season mark at 3-3.
