Cloud County Softball Splits Final Non-Conference Games with Northeast Community College

A trip north to play their final two non-conference games of the season would result in a doubleheader split for the Cloud County Community College softball team following a 4-1 victory in game one before dropping game two by a score of 3-1 against Northeast Community College at Ta-Ha-Zouka Park in Norfolk, Nebraska on Tuesday, April 11th.

Reversing their results from a home doubleheader against Northeast that saw Cloud County pick up a game two victory back on March 12th, the T-Birds move to 13-17 on the year while splitting a four-game series with the Hawks who are now 11-23 on the year.

GAME ONE:
Dealing with strong winds blowing in from center field, neither team would be able to find much offense through three innings of play with just one total hit being recorded by Northeast in the bottom of the first inning. Despite being held hitless into the top of the fifth, Cloud County would take advantage of back-to-back walks to lead off the top of the third before using a sacrifice bunt and Emily Kvasnicka sacrifice fly to score Mia Kelly and take a 1-0 lead into the top of the fifth.

Using a bunt single to get their first hit of the game, the T-Birds would follow with a walk by Ryleigh Jones and Kaitlynn Baca RBI single to add to their lead and go up 2-0. After a hit to load the bases and infield fly to put the first out of the inning on the scoreboard, CCCC would use a Hannah Hotalen fielder's choice to add one more run and cap off a two-run inning.

Northeast would pick up their second hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth but once again be unable to do anything else offensively as the game would remain a 3-0 Cloud County lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. NECC would manage to put together a two-out rally in the sixth with a triple and RBI single scoring a run to bring the Hawks back within two before stranding another runner to send things to the seventh.

CCCC would pick up the run surrendered in the sixth right back in the top of the seventh as a one-out single by Kvasnicka would come around to score on a two-out rally with a walk and Zoie Kincade RBI single putting the T-Birds back up three at 4-1. Northeast would attempt to make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh by putting a pair of two-out base runners on to bring the game-tying run to the plate but ultimately hit an infield pop out to end the game.

Throwing her second complete-game shutout of the season, sophomore Taylor Dekok would improve to 5-4 overall after picking up the victory in the circle after allowing just six hits to NECC while striking out five. The T-Bird offense would be limited to just five hits in the game but be led by a two-hit performance from Kelly who would score two of CCCC's four runs.

GAME TWO:
Offenses would again be limited in game two as the first two innings of the game would go scoreless with Cloud County stranding two-out base runners in both the top of the first and second innings before seeing Northeast put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the third with a single, walk, and RBI single to take their first lead of the afternoon. CCCC would record their first hit of the game in the top of the fourth with a Jayden Rehlander one-out single that would ultimately be stranded as the game would remain a 1-0 contest through the first five innings of play.

A chance to tie things up in the top of the sixth would see CCCC get a leadoff single from Baca before working a two-out single from Hotalen to put the game-tying run in scoring position with the inning coming to an end with both runners stranded following a strikeout. The momentum swing in favor of Northeast having just protected their one-run lead would allow the Hawks to get back to the plate and put together a one-out rally with a base runner reaching on a passed ball on a wild pitch before a walk and RBI single to add to their lead. A throwing error would allow a second run in the inning to score as Northeast would go up 3-0 before seeing a pop out and fly out end the inning with the damage having already been done on just one hit.

Facing a 3-0 deficit and having just three outs offensively to work with, Cloud County would see two quick outs be put on the board before getting a Kelly base hit to flip the lineup over to Jones. A wild pitch would move Kelly to second and allow Jones to hit an RBI single to extend the game and bring home the first run of the game for the T-Birds before seeing the game end in the next at-bat as a groundout back to the pitcher would allow Northeast to escape with the win.

Six different players would account for CCCC's six total hits in the game as the T-Birds would strand seven base runners and strike out nine times. Two different pitchers would see time in the circle for Cloud County with Kiera Brack throwing the first four innings and allowing one run on three hits while striking out six before seeing Taryn McKinney toss the final two innings and allow two unearned runs on two hits.

What's Next?
With only Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference games remaining in the regular season, Cloud County will be back in action on Thursday, April 13th to host a 2 PM home doubleheader against Cowley Community College. The Tigers are 22-12 on the year and are one of two remaining unbeaten teams in conference play with a 6-0 mark in the KJCCC. Cowley was last in action on Monday afternoon, winning game one against Butler by a score of 6-3 before seeing weather suspend game two in the top of the first inning.