Western Nevada College Wildcats Softball hosted Colorado Northwestern Community College Friday afternoon for a doubleheader at Edmonds Sports Complex in Carson City. The Wildcats won both games, 10-2 and 7-2. Pitchers Carlee Beck and Katilyn Covione earned the wins for Western.
In game one, the Wildcats scored in the second inning when Lindsay Ashbaugh knocked an RBI double that scored Andi Lee, who was walked and Katilyn Covione who singled. The score 2-0, WNC.
In the third inning, WNC’s Madi Gonzales tapped a sac bunt. An error on the play scored Mackenzie Hospodka who was walked. Megan Hospodka singled, and stole second. Lee singled to score Gonzales, and a single by Katelyn Bomar scored Megan Hospodka, bringing the score to 5-0, WNC. Megan Hospodka led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, but was caught stealing third.
The Wildcats managed to keep Colorado Northwestern scoreless until the sixth, when they allowed two runs, bringing the score to 5-2, WNC.
A late game rally padded the Wildcats’ score enough to end the game 10-2 in the sixth inning. Covione and Bomar singled, and Mackenzie Hospodka reached on a error, scoring Covione. Gonzales singled to score Bomar, Megan Hospodka singled to score Mackenzie Hospodka, and Lee singled to score Gonzales. A single by Heather Septon scored Megan Hospodka to end the game in favor of the Wildcats.
Wildcats coach Leah Wentworth was pleased with her team’s work.
“It makes a difference when we’re making things happen with our bats. They fought hard and made opportunities out of two out situations. I was glad to see us shut things down early.”
In the second game, Colorado Northwestern struck early, putting up two in the first inning. The Wildcats answered with two runs of their own. Mackenzie Hospodka walked, Gonzales singled, Megan Hospodka reached on fielder’s choice. Cara McCarthy reached on an error that advanced the runners and scored Gonzales. Lee put up an RBI that scored Megan Hospodka, knotting the score at 2-2.
Both teams were scoreless until WNC pulled away in the bottom of the sixth. McCarthy reached on fielder’s choice, Lee hit a double, and Septon followed with a double that scored the runners. Ashbaugh then singled, prompting Colorado Northwestern to make a pitching change. The change did little to slow the Wildcats. Bomar walked, and Mackenzie Hospodka doubled scoring all three runners. The inning ended 7-2, Wildcats. Colorado Northwestern was unable to recover, final score 7-2, WNC. Pitcher Covione earned the win for the Wildcats.
Games continue Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. at Edmonds Sports Complex, Carson City.
