Lady Indians Win Tourney Opener with Walk-Off Win
The McCook Community College softball team opened the Region IX Tournament Friday with a 4-3 walk-off win in the seventh inning over Western Nebraska Community College. The top-seeded Lady Indians move on to a Saturday showdown against second seed Southeast Community College at 2 p.m.
In the middle game of Friday action, MCC sophomore Kashlin Beck (Claflin, Kan.) singled in sophomore Marleigh Mitchell (Mission, British Columbia) with two outs and a 3-2 count to secure the 50th win of the year for the Lady Indians.
"Today was a challenging day for us," said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. "The first game after a bye can difficult."
In the opening game of the day the second-seeded Bobcats scored a 5-3 win over third-seeded Northeastern Junior College.
"I think we got the nerves out today and are ready to go tomorrow," said Mendenhall.
On Saturday, the tournament will open with Northeastern Junior College taking on Western or Luna in the 11 a.m. game. MCC and Southeast will play at 2 p.m. with the loser playing a 5 p.m. game against the winner of Saturday's first game.
Western Nebraska's Mia Magliaccio and MCC's Paige Warren (sophomore, Victoria, British Columbia) battled in a scoreless tie until the Lady Indians loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning. Freshman Lacyn Keller (McCook) led off the inning with a double but was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple. Warren followed with a double to force a pitching change for WNCC. Reliever Gracie Holm hit freshman Josie Wright (Calgary, Alberta). Lyndsay Keogh (freshman, Surrey, British Columbia) grounded out to a pitcher with the runners advancing to second and third. The final out was made when freshman Brooklyn Gillen (McCook) was called out for interference when the catcher's return throw to the pitcher hit her bat.
The Lady Indians were able to push two runs across the plate in the fourth inning. Sophomore Audrey Reeves (Sterling, Colo.) drew a one-out walk and Beck followed with a single to third base. Reeves was out at third on a fielder's choice, but Keller walked to load the bases Warren delivered a two-out RBI-single to left to put MCC ahead 2-0.
The team from Scottsbluff responded in the fifth with a pair of one-out singles and a three-run home run by Tori Travers to take a 3-2 lead.
MCC tied the game in the home-half of the fifth with back-to-back walks by Gillen and Mitchell and a bunt single by Reeves scored Gillen to tie the game 3-3.
After allowing a leadoff single in the sixth Warren struck out three straight Cougars to get out of the inning. The first two hitters of the MCC sixth went out and then Keogh singled but was out trying to turn it into a double.
Warren retired WNCC in order in the seventh, striking out the final two hitters to set up the thrilling end in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Mitchell worked a six-pitch at bat and with a full count hit a grounder to shortstop but was able to reach with the fielder bobbled. She later took second on defensive indifference. After Reeves fouled out the to the catcher, Beck lined a 3-2 pitch into centerfield to score Mitchell with the game-winner.
Warren picked up the win to improve to 26-2 on the year – best among 735 pitchers in Division 1 of the NJCAA. She also picked up her nation's best 27th complete game. She allowed nine hits, walked one and struck out 13 hitters.
"We had a great pitching performance and did what we needed to do for the win, but we need to be better tomorrow," said Mendenhall.
MCC had seven hits with two each by Warren and Beck, Keller had a double and Reeves and Keough both had singles. Gillen and Warren both had stolen bases for MCC.