The Western Nevada Community College baseball team had to settle for one win on the road to open Scenic West Conference play after playing four hard fought games.
Community College of Southern Nevada swept a doubleheader from WNCC on Saturday in Henderson in two seven-inning games, winning the opener 8-5 and the nightcap 3-2. CCSN won three of four games in the series and also took the season series from its instate rival 3-2.
"It's disappointing, but it was nice to get a win on the road," WNCC assistant coach Andrew Patterson said.
In the opener, CCSN jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Stephen Sauer. Sauer went on to allow four runs in three innings while striking out four. McQueen's Dan Grubbs allowed one run in two innings.
WNCC (7-9, 1-3) closed to within 4-3 in the fourth on Taylor Meiras three-run double. Meiras hit a shot down the right field line on a 1-2 curveball. "That was a great piece of hitting right there," Patterson said.
The other highlight of the game came when Thomas Miller hit a towering home run over the left centerfield scoreboard in the sixth to bring WNCC within 5-4. It was the second home run for WNCC this season as Spanish Springs Brad Carlsen has the other shot.
But CCSN touched Chad Riddle for three runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-4 lead. In the seventh, Chadd Dudley doubled, moved to third on Brett Mosher's single and was driven home by Kyle Bondurant to finish the scoring. Miller had two hits and scored a run and Carson High graduate Aaron Henry added a hit.
In the nightcap, WNCC only had two hits, but led 2-0 going into the bottom of the fourth. Cole Rohrbough was the tough luck loser after allowing a run in the fourth and two in the fifth. He struck out five in 4.2 innings.
Josh Brink didn't allow a run in 1/3 of an inning and Ryan Iodence struck out two in pitching a scoreless sixth.
In the second, Douglas High graduate Chad Walling executed a squeez bunt to score Tyson Jaquez. In the third Jerahmie Libke walked, went to second on Mosher's sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Jaquez. Mosher had WNCC's other hit..
"They battled," Patterson said. "This team's going to fight. It's nice when the opposing coach comes and over and says you have your guys playing hard. It's a compliment for our team."
WNCC will continue conference play this weekend in its home opening series against Colorado Northwestern at Ron McNutt Field. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Friday and this Saturday. Game times each day are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.