Lady Indians sweep four-game series at Trinidad

TRINIDAD, Colo. – The McCook Community College softball team completed a four-game sweep over Trinidad State to open Region IX play this weekend. The Lady Indians won the Sunday games 12-0 and 12-2.

“We competed at the plate collectively and were able to produce a lot of offense all weekend,” said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall.

The Lady Indians outscored Trinidad State 55-5 in the four-game sweep.

MCC outhit Trinidad State 17-2 in Game 1 Sunday as sophomore Paige Warren (Victoria, British Columbia) tossed a two-hit shutout and had three hits herself as the Lady Indians broke up the game scoring seven runs in the sixth inning.

Sophomore transfer Marleigh Mitchell (Mission, British Columbia) homered as part of her three-hit Game 2 and freshman Lyndsay Keogh (Surrey, British Columbia) had five RBIs to support the complete game win by starting pitcher Hannah Schneider (freshman, Alliance, Neb.).

“We had another day of good energy and two great pitching performances from Paige and Hannah,” said Mendenhall. “It makes it a lot easier on our pitchers when we score early and we did in both games.”

Mitchell and freshman Josie Wright (Calgary, Alberta) both had six hits in the doubleheader.

The Trojans fall to 2-16 on the season and 0-4 in Region IX play.

MCC improves to 17-3 and 4-0 in the region. MCC will be home for six games this week starting with a doubleheader Tuesday against Dakota College-Bottineau (3-5) starting at 2 p.m. On Friday MCC hosts Southeast Community College (4-4) for a four-game Region IX series. Friday’s games start at noon with Saturday’s games starting at 11 a.m.

GAME 1 – McCook CC 12, Trinidad State 0 (6 innings): Josie Wright ignited the MCC offense in the first with a single, taking second base on defensive indifference, stealing third and scoring on a two-out double by sophomore transfer Marleigh Mitchell. Sophomore Audrey Reeves (Sterling, Colo.) singled in two to put MCC up 3-0.

Lyndsay Keogh singled to lead off the MCC fifth, and with two outs sophomore Kashlin Beck (Claflin, Kan.) lashed a two-out RBI single and another run came home on a Trinidad error to make it a 5-0 game.

Warren doubled to lead off the sixth, Wright singled and Keogh doubled both runners home. With two outs, Beck singled in Keogh and two more runs came home on a single by freshman Brooklyn Gillen (McCook). Freshman Lacyn Keller (McCook) and Wright both singled in runs to put MCC ahead 12-0.

Warren retired the side in order in the sixth inning to record the shutout. She allowed two singles, walked a batter and struck out eight.

Warren, Wright and Mitchell all had three-hit games to lead the 19-hit attack. Keogh, Reeves, Beck and Gillen all drove in two runs.

GAME 2 – McCook CC 12, Trinidad State 2 (5 innings): Paige Warren led the game off with a walk and scored on a Josie Wright triple. Lyndsay Keogh batted in Wright on a groundout and after a Marleigh Mitchell single Audrey Reeves homered to give the Lady Indians a 4-0 lead.

After a walk and a Trinidad error gave MCC another in the second Mitchell muscled up for a two-run homer to right field. An error and a double by Brooklyn Gillen set the table for freshman Ellie Baca (freshman, Greeley, Colo.) who made it an 8-1 game with an RBI groundout.

After a Wright triple in the third Keogh put MCC ahead 9-2 with an RBI groundout. The Lady Indians put the game out of reach with three runs in the fifth. After a Trinidad error and a single by Lacyn Keller, Wright singled to drive in one run and Keogh singled to drive in the final two runs.

Hannah Schneider went the distance in the pitching circle allowing four hits and two earned runs with no walks and two strikeouts.

Wright and Mitchell both had three hits and two RBIs for the Lady Indians. Keogh had five RBIs, Reeves drove in two.

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