WNCC softball splits with Miles on Sunday

Photo: Mia Migliaccio delivers a pitch during game two of their game with Miles Community College.

                For the second straight day, sophomore Tina Horton delivered a walk-off home run to help the Western Nebraska Community College softball team earn a split with Miles Community College on Sunday at Volunteer Field.

                It happened in game two Sunday as the Cougars were ahead 7-3. WNCC loaded the bases with two outs and Horton came through in a major way with a grand slam that clearly cleared the leftfield fence for the six-inning 11-3 to help the Cougars earn a split with the Pioneers.

                The opening game was one where the Cougars just needed to put behind them as Miles scored seven in the fourth inning enroute to the 17-6 win.

                Mia Migliaccio, who picked up the win in game two with a 2-hitter while walking three and striking out two, said it was a good way for the team to come back after falling in game one.

                “I think everyone played good. There was not too many errors and I feel like the defense and the bats were on,” Migliaccio said. “It was pretty important (to come back from the first game) because since we’ve been splitting so much, we have to start taking more series to get to the regional tournament.”

                Game two was a game where the Cougars never trailed and scored in five of the six innings they played. Miles, on the other hand, only scored two runs in the second and one in the fifth.

                WNCC got things started in the first when Horton led off with a single and was sacrificed over to second. Jasmine Castro then hit a hard ground ball that was booted which scored Horton. Castro came in to score on a Viktoria Sarkanyova ground ball that was booted for the 2-0 lead.

                Miles tied the game with two in the second, but the Cougars answered with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame. Alyssa Albaugh drew a lead-off walk. Then, with two outs, Horton hit a high fly ball that was misplayed in the outfield scoring Albaugh. Horton came in to score on a Tori Travers single.

                WNCC plated a single run in the third for a 5-2 lead when Albaugh singled with two outs followed by a Rory Weizenegger single. Albaugh scored on a Migiliaccio single for a 5-2 lead.

                Miles plated one in the fifth only to watch the Cougars score two in the fifth. Weizenegger led off with a double. Castro then delivered a 2-out double that scored two runs for a 7-3 lead.

                 WNCC ended the game in the sixth via the 8-run rule when Sarkanyova reached on an error followed by Ellie Soper drawing a walk. With two outs, Migliaccio loaded the bases with a walk, setting up Horton. The sophomore from Australia took the first pitch and, boom, it went easily over the leftfield fence for the grand slam and the 11-3 walk-off win.

                WNCC finished with nine hits, led by Horton with a 3-for-4 game with four RBIs, four runs scored, and a grand slam. Rory Weizenegger also had two hits with a double, while Castro had three RBIs with a double.

                The second game showed the potential of the Cougar team and it showed them what not to do in a game from the first game where they lost to Miles 17-6.

                Miles took a 3-0 lead in the first on three hits. WNCC came back to make it a 3-2 lead after scoring single runs in the second and third. The second saw Emma Murdock get a single that score Castro.

                The third saw Horton and Travers get singles and Horton came in to score on a 2-out single by Castro.

                WNCC then let Miles score seven times in the fourth, all with two outs, to take a 10-2 lead. WNCC made it a game with four in the bottom of the fourth when Mrudock scored on an error. The Cougars scored again on a Weizenegger single. Holm then plated another run with a double.

                Miles added seven more runs to lead 17-6. The Cougars tried a last inning comeback and they left the bases loaded without scoring a run.

                WNCC managed just six hits and just one extra base hit, the double by Holm.

                WNCC will be back in action Saturday at conference leading McCook. McCook then returns to Volunteer Field on Sunday to face the Cougars.

Game 1
Miles                    300 725 – 17 17 4
WNCC                011 400 – 6 10 6

LP – Abbey Arntsen.

2B – Gracie Holm.

Game 2

Miles                    020 010 – 3 2 7
WNCC                221 024 – 11 9 5
WP – Mia Migliaccio.

2B – Jasmine Castro, Rory Weizenegger.

HR – Tina Horton.