Lady Indians shut out ‘Runnin’ Lopes twice
The 21st ranked McCook Community College softball team continued their winning ways Friday with a doubleheader sweep over Lamar Community College. The Lady Indians shut out the Runnin’ Lopes in both games and ended both games early on the eight-run rule. MCC won 8-0 and 12-0.
“We played really well defensively and our pitching was outstanding once again,” said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall.
In Game 1, sophomore Paige Warren (Victoria, British Columbia) went three-for-three at the plate and pitched a one-hit shutout with freshman Hayley Smith (Chestermere, Alberta) hitting a home run in the fifth to end the game on the run rule.
The Lady Indians scored eight runs in the first inning of Game 2 as freshman Hannah Schneider (Alliance, Neb.) pitched a four-hit shutout and freshman Josie Wright (Calgary, Alberta) went three-for-three with three stolen bases.
“I didn’t know what to expect with Lamar, but we did what we needed to do and played pretty well,” said Mendenhall.
Warren went five-for-seven in the doubleheader scoring four runs with six RBIs, a double, hit her fourth homer of the year and stole three bases to add to her league-leading total of 35.
Lamar falls to 10-8 in the standings and 15-23 overall.
The Lady Indians improve to 32-4 and 17-1 in the standings.
The two teams will conclude their four-game series Saturday with the doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
GAME 1 – McCook CC 8, Lamar 0 (5 innings): The Lady Indians got a run in the first with a leadoff bunt single by Paige Warren who stole second, went to third on a passed ball and scored on an RBI-groundout by freshman Brooklyn Gillen (McCook). MCC added two more in the second on a two out single by Hayley Smith, a hit batter, a passed ball and a two-run single by Warren.
In the MCC fourth a Lamar error and a double by Warren made it 4-0 with Warren making it 5-0 on a sacrifice fly by Lyndsay Keogh (freshman, Surrey, British Columbia).
Sophomore Marleigh Mitchell (Mission, British Columbia) singled to lead off the fifth and scored on an RBI-double from sophomore Audrey Reeves (Sterling, Colo.) before Smith ended the game on the eight-run rule, with a two-run home run to center field. It was her second of the season.
Warren improved to a league-best 15-2 on the pitching circle with the shutout. She allowed one hit, walked two and struck out four which gives her 80 for the season which also leads all Region IX pitchers. Her 1.64 ERA is second best in the region, trailing only her teammate Hannah Schneider.
Warren also led the Indians with three of their seven hits, and Smith had two.
GAME 2 – McCook CC 12, Lamar 0 (5 innings): Twelve MCC players batted in an eight-run first inning. The Lady Indians got singles by Josie Wright, Lyndsay Keogh, and Marleigh Mitchell and RBI-single by Brooklyn Gillen, a two-run single by Hayley Smith, a bases-loaded walk by Audrey Reeves and a three-run homer by Paige Warren.
Reeves singled home a run in the second to make it 9-0. In the third inning, Wright singled home one run and Gillen doubled her home to put MCC up 11-0 and in the fourth, freshman Ellie Baca (Greeley, Colo.) doubled and made it to third on an NJC error and scored on a passed ball for the final margin of victory, 12-0.
Starting pitcher Hannah Schneider (Alliance, Neb.) improved to 10-1 with her four-hit shutout. She didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven. She decreased her league best E.R.A to 1.15.
MCC had 12 hits led by Wright with three, with Warren and Gillen each having two. Warren drove in three runs with Gillen, Reeves and Wright driving in two each.
Up-to-date information about MCC softball including up-to-date schedule and changes, livestream links for home games, rosters, photos, statistics and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com