Matthew Hill, 100 freestyle.
RANGELY, Colo. — It was the type of half inning that Western Nevada College softball players won’t soon forget. Thirteen Wildcats came to the plate in the fourth inning, with nine of them hitting their way on base.
By the time the damage was done, eight Wildcats had crossed the plate, turning a 3-1 deficit into a 9-3 lead.
The big rally inspired the Wildcats to swat a school-record 22 hits en route to a 14-6 Scenic West Athletic Conference victory and a doubleheader split with the Colorado Northwest Community College Spartans on Saturday.
The Spartans won Saturday’s opener 11-9, using a six-run fifth inning to overtake the Wildcats.
Sophomore Andi Lee pounded three doubles during a 5-for-5 hitting performance that also included four RBI.
Seven of the Wildcats’ hits went for extra bases, with Makenzie Hospodka smacking a pair of doubles.
Every player in the Wildcats’ lineup had at least one hit. Katelyn Bomar was 4 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI, Cara McCarthy went 3 for 5 with a run scored and a RBI, Hospodka was 3 for 5 with three runs scored and a RBI and Jenny Rechel and Heather Septon each went 2 for 4 with two runs scored.
The bountiful fourth inning started with a base hit to left field by Hospodka. Lee then stroked the first of her two two-baggers in the inning, scoring Hospodka. Rechel’s base hit to right field sent Lee to third base. Septon’s double scored Lee to tie the score at 3 and moved Rechel to third base. WNC took a 4-3 lead on a bunt single by Madi Gonzalez. Bomar’s RBI base hit put the Wildcats ahead 5-3 and enabled Gonzalez to motor into third base. McCarthy kept the hits coming, plating Gonzalez with a base hit to center field. Bomar swiped third base and scored on Covione’s fielder’s choice.
Hospodka and Lee harvested the final two runs of the inning with RBI doubles.
After the Spartans scored twice in their half of the fourth to close within 9-5, the Wildcats’ hitting assault resumed. Septon tripled and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Gonzalez. Covione added a sacrifice fly to re-establish a six-run Wildcat lead, 11-5.
The top three hitters in the Wildcats’ batting order combined for seven hits and seven RBI.
Covione was 3 for 5 with three RBI, Gonzalez was 2 for 5 with two runs scored and four RBI and McCarthy went 2 for 5. Hospodka had two hits and scored twice.
Carlee Beck was the hard-luck loser, giving up eight hits in 4 2/3 innings. Only four of the 11 runs scored against Beck were earned.
WNC went ahead 7-5 in the top of the fifth inning, but things came apart for the Wildcats in the bottom of the inning.
Following a home run by Hailee Meacham to lead off the inning, the Wildcats committed four errors and hit two batters as the Spartans scored six times to go ahead, 11-7.
Gonzalez, who came into the series with a team-leading .352 batting average, erased a 4-3 CNCC lead with a three-run homer in the fourth inning.
SWIMMING
Douglas sweeps Carson
MINDEN — Douglas had an easy time, winning both the boys (212-82) and girls meet (217-87) Saturday morning.
The Carson boys won just two individual events on the day — Dagen Kipling (200 IM, 2:10.24) and Peter Grarrett (54.49, 100 free). Kipling also was third in the 100 back (1:04.20).
Bryan Remick was fourth in the 100 back (1:12.71). Casey Garrett was second in the 100 fly (1:00.79).
Kevin Smithen led the Douglas boys with wins in the 100 fly (56.83) and the 100 back (1:01.54).
Ashley Meyer led the Carson girls with a second in the 500 free (6:03.99) and a fourth in the 100 fly (1:13.51). Christina Saenz was third in the 50 free (28.62) and third in the 100 breast (1:21.36). Nora Streng was third in the 100 back (1:12.77). America Brena was third in the 100 free (1:04.16).
Douglas’ Savannah Chappell won the 100 back (1:05.98) and the 500 free (5:42.23). Kaila Duffy won the 100 fly (1:04.56) and the 100 free (59.58).
Erica Chappell won the 200 free (2:06.33) and Annalisa Neal took the 100 breast (1:16,81).
TRACK
Reid 7th at Arcadia
ARCADIA, Calif. — Corey Reid racked up 6,700 points en route to a seventh-place finish in the decathlon at the Arcadia Invitational.
Reid had personal bests in six events of the 10. His best finishes were second in the 400 (48.73), second in the 1500 (4:16.60), fourth in the high jump 6-3 1/2 and fifth in the 100 (11.35).
His time in the 400 is a new school record.
Madison Preston was seventh in the triple jump with a PR of 36-11 and 10th in the long jump (17-11).
Dakota Baker ran a 15.5 in the 110 hurdles and a 42.6 in the 300 hurdles. He was fourth in his heat in the high hurdles and eighth in his heat in the longer hurdle event.
Asa Carter competed in the triple jump, but no mark was reported.