Western Nevada College took little time Friday afternoon to take control in the opener doubleheader of a four-game Scenic West Athletic Conference series against Colorado Northwestern Community College. In just one inning, the Wildcats established a 6-0 lead and never looked back.
The nightcap brought a closer contest, but WNC held on for a 6-4 win. The victories left the Wildcats in second place as the schedule nears tournament time, while the much-improved Colorado Northwestern team still sits near the bottom of the league.
The two teams will meet again Saturday at noon in Carson City at John L. Harvey Field.
WNC won the seven-inning opener 7-1, scoring seven runs on nine hits. The Wildcats held the Spartans to one run on five hits, and starting pitcher Rayne Raven got the win, improving his record on the mound to 6-2. Joey Krunkilton was 3 for 3 at the plate.
WNC scored six runs on four hits in the first inning, and did not allow a Spartan score until the fourth inning.
Game Two was a back and forth affair. It was scoreless until the bottom of the second inning, when Western Nevada took a 3-0 lead. The Wildcats loaded the bases and then scored three on two sacrifice bunts, a pass ball, and a Spartan error.
Colorado Northwestern answered in the top of the third with three runs on three hits. WNC followed suit in the fourth inning with a leadoff double by Connor Klein that led to his score at the bat of Jack Bennett. His RBI made the score 4-3.
The Spartans tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth inning, and starting Wildcats pitcher Max Karnos gave way to Spencer Greer. The Wildcats took the lead for good in the sixth inning with two runs on three hits, including a Klein’s second double, and a two out homer by Krunkilton.