With the wind blowing out, home runs seemed to be in the cards, and the Western Nevada College softball team was dealing them. In game one, WNC put four out of the park to come out on top of the Badgers, 12-6. Noa Talia blasted two home runs to help the Wildcats take the second game, 12-9, finishing off the sweep Friday at Pete Livermore Sports Complex.
Gabrielle Canibeyaz put the Wildcats on the board first with an inside-the-park home run in the second inning of the opener. Snow’s right fielder, AnnMarie Allred was injured while making the play, and required transport to the hospital by ambulance.
Bailey Henderson doubled in the bottom of the third, and scored on a single by Kacie Freudenberger. Briauna Carter singled, scoring Freudenberger and knotting the score, 3-3 for WNC.
In the fourth, Dakota Robinson doubled, and Triniece Lesky slammed a home run, edging WNC ahead, 5-3. Makaylee Jaussi worked a walk, and Henderson homered to give WNC a 7-3 lead.
In the sixth, Lesky led off with a single, Jaussi drew a walk, and Henderson pounded another home run, making it 10-6, WNC. Carter then singled, and Talia put one out to give WNC a 12-6 lead.
Pitcher Kristina George went the distance in the circle for WNC. She allowed 10 hits, and struck out eight batters.
Coach Leah Wentworth said, “Offensively, we’ve been climbing and settling in. This is the first day I’ve seen them execute a solid game at the plate.”
The Wildcats kept the momentum up, scoring in the first inning, when Jaussi walked, Melanie Mecham doubled and Freudenberger doubled to score the runners.
Canibeyaz singled to score Freudenberger to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
WNC padded its lead in the second. Lesky walked and Jaussi singled. A single by Henderson scored the runners. Mecham singled, and Carter and Freudenberger drew walks to load the bases. Talia singled, scoring Mecham and Freudenberger as WNC went on to take a 7-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, Freudenberger walked, Carter singled, and Talia homered, making it 10-3, Wildcats.
Talia hit here second home run of the game, third for the day, which scored Carter, who had reached on an error to give WNC a 12-5 lead.
The two teams will conclude the series with a doubleheader beginning at noon today. WNC’s sophomores will be honored in between games.