HIGHLAND, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College softball competed on Sunday against Highland Community College, but in the end the Scotties earned the doubleheader sweep.

                The first game saw a competitive contest as Highland scored four runs and held the WNCC bats in check to register the 4-0 win.

                The second game saw WNCC get on the scoreboard but seven runs in the middle frames from Highland was the difference as the host team captured the 8-3 win.

                The first game was a battle as neither team scored in the first two innings. Highland came back with two in the third and those two runs came on just one hit as the runs came in on a double for the 2-0 lead.

                Highland added single runs in the fifth and sixth for the 4-0 lead.

                WNCC managed just two hits in the contest, both singles by Victoria Wharton and Chloe Cronquist.

                Caley Leslie took the loss, going 4 1/3 innings in allowing three innings, three runs, and striking out two. DesaRae Woolsey tossed 1 2/3 innings in relief in allowing two hits, one run, and getting a strikeout.

                The second game started off in WNCC's favor. Cronquist led off with a single and reached third base after Avery Fox laid down a bunt and both runners save at the corners. Cronquist scores on the next batter for the 1-0 lead.

                Highland answered with one in the first to knot the score, but the Cougars went up 2-1 with another run in the third. Wharton singles to lead off the inning and scores on a single by Arianah Plorin. WNCC had the bases loaded but couldn't score any more.

                Highland answered in the bottom of the third with four runs to lead 5-2 and then the Scotties added three more in the fourth to lead 8-2.

                WNCC tried a seventh-inning comeback as Wharton reached on an error and scored on a Cronquist double. Plorin followed with a single, but both were left stranded to end the game.

                WNCC had five hits in the contest. Cronquist was 2-for-4 with a double, run scored, and RBIs. Plorin went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Wharton had a hit while scoring two runs.

                Avery Fox took the loss, tossing 3 2/3 innings allowing eight runs, eight hits, and striking out six.

                WNCC will be back in action this weekend when they open conference play with three games at Lamar Community College. WNCC will play two on Saturday and one on Sunday.

 Game 1
WNCC                   000 000 0 – 0 2 0
Highland              002 011 x – 4 5 2
LP – Caley Leslie

Game 2
WNCC                   101 000 1 – 3 5 0
Highland              104 300 x – 8 8 3
LP – Avery Fox.
2B – Chloe Cronquist.