WNC Softball: Big Innings Propel Bruins to Four-Game Sweep of Wildcats
Eliminate two big offensive innings for Salt Lake Community College and Western Nevada College played the 18th-ranked Bruins pretty even on Saturday.
The Bruins scored seven runs in the seventh inning to break open a tight game on their way to an 11-2 softball victory and followed that by erupting for eight runs in the second frame in a 10-1 win in game two at Edmonds Sports Complex in Carson City.
By winning both Scenic West Athletic Conference games, the Bruins completed a four-game sweep of the Wildcats, raising their overall record to 17-3.
"We made some good adjustments in the first game and shifted our defense around a little bit to try to minimize their short game," said WNC coach Leah Wentworth. "All day I was happy with the way we played. It's tough to lose the second one the way we did. Salt Lake is able to string a lot of hits together. There were a couple innings in both games where we had a tough time getting their offense out."
Right-hander Dakota Robinson was awarded the start against the Bruins in the opener and the freshman responded by throwing six strong innings before tiring in the seventh.
"What makes Dakota so effective is her curveball. She has good movement and spin, and it's usually pretty tough for the hitters to get the barrel of their bat on the ball," Wentworth said. "I felt she would be a good pitcher to use, being that they have a lot of lefty slappers and they were looking for that outside pitch to drive or put toward third base. She was able to get in on their hands a little bit and I think it was effective."
Robinson surrendered nine hits and four earned runs. Seven of the Bruins' hits off Robinson and reliever Kaitlyn Jimmy came in the final inning when Salt Lake snapped a scoreless tie by pushing across two runs in the fourth inning.
But the Wildcats responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Kacie Freudenberger triggered the rally with a base hit and went to second when Briauna Carter was hit by a pitch. Lauren Lesniak followed with a base hit to score Freudenberger and cut WNC's deficit in half. The Wildcats pulled even with an aggressive double steal, which allowed Carter to cross the plate.
The Wildcats missed a chance to go in front after producing two more hits during the inning. Gabriella Canibeyaz followed a single by Britni Greninger with a base hit of her own, but Canibeyaz was thrown out trying to advance to second after a Salt Lake throw to third.
"There were a couple of close plays at second base today that really could have gone either way," Wentworth said.
Baylee Reeves came on in relief of Paige Reimann to fan Pamela Sakuma to prevent the Wildcats from going ahead.
Salt Lake regained the lead, 3-2, in the fifth as Raeana Gall tripled and came home on an error by shortstop Makaylee Jaussi.
Megan Reed doubled and eventually crossed the plate on a groundout by Kirsten Anderson as the Bruins went ahead 4-2 in the sixth.
The Bruins broke open the game by scoring seven runs in the seventh inning. A KyRae Kogianes RBI double, a two-run triple by Riana Splinter and a two-run single by Karly Bunderson were the big blows of the inning.
Melanie Mecham and Canibeyaz supplied two hits for the Wildcats.
In the second game, Bunderson homered off Nicole Lesniak in the first inning, putting the Bruins in front 1-0.
The Wildcats responded with a one-out single by Mecham in their first at-bat, but she was left on base.
In the second, Lauren Frailey's two-run single increased Salt Lake's lead to 3-0. Anderson and Bunderson also delivered RBI singles for a 5-0 lead. Those hits preceded a three-run homer by Gall. The Bruins' second homer of the inning - a solo blast by Kogianes off reliever Kristina George - made the score 9-0.
"I'm never surprised at the talent Salt Lake has because they've always had a good ball club," Wentworth said. "They always do all of the little things they need to do. I was surprised that they generally don't use as much short game. Today, they had to adjust and they still were successful with it."
Frailey started in the circle for the Bruins and earned the win with a three-hit complete game.
George, who was roughed up a bit in the opening game of the series, held the Bruins to only one more run the rest of the way.
"Kristina came in and did a good job of mixing speeds. She started to hold them off, but it was just too big of gap at that point," Wentworth said.
The Wildcats scored their lone run in the third inning when Jaussi knocked in Hannah Russo with a single.
WNC, which dropped to 1-6 in the SWAC 6-11 overall, will travel to Colorado Northwestern for a four-game series that begins Friday in Rangely, Colo. Salt Lake improved to 7-1 in SWAC play.