North Platte – The North Platte Community College softball team (10-26) knocked off their rival, the McCook Community College Indians (31-20) in both games of a double-header Thursday before falling twice to the Garden City Community College BroncBusters (19-30) on Friday. The Knights defeated the Indians 8-6 and 9-6 in their annual “Beat Cancer” game while losing to the BroncBusters 2-13 and 7-16.
In the opening game against McCook, Shannon Lieber earned the win on the mound as she gave up five hits and only one earned run. Katharine Savolt earned the save giving up two hits and one unearned run.
Lieber led the Knights at the plate going 2-2 with a home run and two RBIs. Britlee Anderson was 2-3 while Soliel Atenza was 2-4 with an RBI and Sydney Standage was 1-3 with a double, a walk and scoring two runs.
The Knights followed up their game one win against the Indians with another win in the second game as Savolt earned the win as she gave up five hits and only one earned run. Lieber got the save as she gave up four hits and three earned runs to go along with three strikeouts.
Savolt led the Knights at the plate going 2-4 while scoring a run. Standage was 1-2 with a walk, a sacrifice and scored a run. Shaylynne Campo and Brooke Wakefield were both 1-2 and scored two runs.
“We played solid on Thursday for our “Beat Cancer” game,” said head coach Janelle Higgins. “Everyone played hard and we had solid at bats. Our pitchers pitched two solid games.”
Against the BroncBusters of Garden City, Shannon Lieber took the loss on the mound giving up 13 runs with six unearned on nine hits.
Katharine Savolt was 2-3 at the plate while Lieber was 1-1 with a run and walk. Soliel Atenza was 1-3 and scored a run.
The Knights also fell in the second game against Garden City. Savolt took the loss on the mound giving up 12 runs of which four were earned on seven hits.
Britlee Anderson was 3-4 with an RBI while Atenza was 2-3 with a walk and a scored run. Savolt went 2-4 with 3 RBIs and home run. Alexis Bryant was 2-3 while Christina Rodie had a walk and reached on an error while scoring two runs.
“Friday we had a few changes in our line-up but our team really showed heart and determination to fight back in both games after getting down early in the first innings of both games,” said Higgins. “I am proud of our girls for the fight.”
The Knights’ double-header with Western Nebraska Community College scheduled for Saturday, April 27 were canceled due to weather. The Knights return to the diamond on Monday, April 28 as they take on Barton Community College at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The Knights then host Colby Community College on Tuesday, April 29 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. before travelling to Beatrice for the Region IX Division II Tournament on May 2 where they open with Southeast Community College.