WNC Softball: Fast start helps Wildcats to double header split with Coyotes
Submitted by editor on Sat, 04/02/2016 - 5:04pm
After allowing College of Southern Nevada to gain the upper hand early on Friday, Western Nevada set the offensive tone on Saturday at Pete Livermore Sports Complex in Carson City.
For the first time in the series, the Wildcats got a jump on the Coyotes, scoring four times in the first frame en route to a 6-0 victory. However, the Wildcats were unable to hold a four-run edge in Game 2, losing 10-8.
Melanie Mecham jump-started the Wildcat offense by roping a two-run double down the right-field line, plating Makaylee Jaussi and Bailey Henderson. Kacie Freudenberger and Gabrielle Canibeyaz utilized the breeze blowing out to left field, launching run-scoring doubles before CSN starting pitcher Jaycie LeBaron ended the rally.
"We came out strong right away," said WNC coach Leah Wentworth. "We have really been stressing the importance of being able to come back the next day with a solid game plan at the plate because they have an idea of what they did well and didn't do well against the pitching staff that they just faced, and I really think they are starting to take that into day two and make some good adjustments at the plate."
That was more than enough offense for sophomore pitcher Kristina George, who fired a five-hit shutout. George stranded 10 Coyotes on base and struck out five.
"She's really good under pressure," Wentworth said. "It's almost like she feeds off of it. When she's in those pressure situations, she bares down and focuses on getting those outs."
Canibeyaz followed up her a first-inning RBI double by singling and scoring in the fourth inning and tripling in the sixth.
LeBaron was the winning pitcher in Game 2 on Friday, but the Wildcats were ready for her style of pitching from the outset.
"We corrected on her misses," Canibeyaz said. "Anything that she left over the plate we took advantage of it."
Canibeyaz broke out of recent slump on Friday and continued her offensive onslaught on Saturday. She delivered hits in her first five at-bats on day two, including a three-bagger that prompted a rousing high-five from third base coach Wentworth.
"That's the biggest thing that helps, that when you are going through a slump, knowing that your coaches have your back and believe in you, it helps you get out of it."
George escaped a jam in the first inning as Freudenberger had the presence to force out a runner at second after just missing a diving grab. That left runners on first and third, and George induced two infield pop outs to stem the threat.
The Coyotes loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Kara Simpson flew out to center fielder Mecham to keep the score 4-0.
Henderson's two-run base hit along the right-field line pushed WNC's lead to 6-0 in the fourth inning. Consecutive singles by Canibeyaz and Briauna Carter ignited the rally.
"Gabby has been putting in a lot of effort and extra time outside of practice, and it's really transitioned to the game," Wentworth said. "I'm excited to see all of her hard work pay off and being able to help the team."
In the second game, the Wildcats repeated their fast start against Shonda Badayos.
After spotting the Coyotes a 2-0 lead in the first, Mecham knocked in Jaussi with a single in WNC's first, trimming the deficit in half. In the second, the Wildcats sent nine hitters to plate, scoring five times. Henderson and Freudenbergrd each delivered two-run singles to center during the five-hit rally.
George showed her endurance in the circle, starting the second game after her complete-game shutout performance. After surrendering three hits and two runs in the opening frame, she settled down. She allowed only two more hits before handing the ball to freshman McKell Marble in the fourth.
Carter gave Marble time to settle in with a scintillating play at third. On Jordan Meinke's liner down the line, Carter gloved the ball and then threw a perfect strike to Dakota Robinson at first to retire Meinke. In the same inning, catcher Chelsea Latu threw out speedy Coyote leadoff hitter Maggie Manwarren trying to steal second.
Marble gave up two hits and a run in the fifth, and the freshman right-hander ran into more trouble in the sixth when the Coyotes collected four hits and three runs to creep within a run, 8-7.
The Wildcats recorded the first two outs in the seventh and were one strike away from a sweep before pinch-hitter Raina Ladislao walked and Manwarren beat out an infield single. Jinger Meuir's base hit to single tied the score, and Kara Simpson's two-run double to left-center put the Coyotes ahead, 10-8.
WNC followed the Coyotes' form in its last at-bat. After two quick outs, Carter singled to right and Triniece Lesky pounded a double into the left-center field gap. But Badayos fanned pinch-hitter Noa Talia to end the game.
Eight of the nine Wildcats who started delivered at least one hit. Mecham and Freudenberger collected two knocks and two RBI. Carter and Cannibeyaz also stroked two hits, and Lesky doubled twice. Carter touched home plate three times.
By splitting the series, the Wildcats' SWAC record stands at 7-13 at the hallway point of the conference season, and their overall mark is 12-19. The Coyotes are 4-16 in SWAC play.
WNC will continue its homestand when second-place College of Southern Idaho visits on Friday and Saturday.
