Hastings – The North Platte Community College Softball team (8-24) split the two games of their double-header with the Hastings College JV Broncos Monday afternoon in Hastings. The Knights fell in the opening game 1-3 before coming back to defeat the Broncos in the second game 6-5 in extra innings.

In the opening game, the Knights struggled to score until the seventh inning when they tried to mount a comeback. Siarra Velasquez got on base and scored but the Knights were unable to get any other runs across the plate the in the 1-3 defeat.

“We had a slow start in the first game and just couldn’t get runners across the plate,” said head coach Janelle Higgins.

Velasquez went 1-3 from the plate. Sydney Standage and Soliel Atenza each went 2-4 while Shannon Lieber and Brittany Odum both went 1-3. Katharine Savolt had the lone RBI on a sacrifice. Savolt was the losing pitcher going six innings, giving up four hits and three runs to go along with one strikeout and five walks.

The Knights rebounded with a game two victory as Shannon Lieber was the winning pitcher going all eight innings, giving up five hits and five run to go along with one strikeout and one walk. Both Britlee Anderson and Alexis Bryant led the way at the plate getting two hits apiece on four at bats. Anderson also scored two runs.

“It was a huge second game for us,” said Higgins. “We had base runners throughout the whole game, but just couldn’t get them across until the top of the 7th. (Shaylynne) Campo stepped up huge for us to help get the win.”

Other players getting hits for the Knights were Standage who was 1-3 with an RBI, Savolt who was 1-4 with a run, Atenza who was 1-4 with a run, Lieber who was 1-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, Brooke Wakefield who was 1-4 and Shaylynne Campo who was 1-2 with two RBIs.

“Our pitchers are doing a great job of getting ground balls and pop flies and our defense is playing solid. We just have to get our bats going from the start of the game. The girls are playing hard and never giving up,” said Higgins

The Knights return to the diamond on Thursday, April 24 with a doubleheader at home against McCook Community College at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Knights remain at home the following day as they host Garden City Community College on Friday, April 25 at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.