The North Platte Community College Softball team will host the Dawson Community College Buccaneers in doubleheaders on both Tuesday, March 10 and Wednesday, March 11 at the Wayne Dowhower Softball Complex.

The Knights are 3 – 11 on the season.  They are led offensively by Sara Villalobos. Villalobos is leading the team in hitting with a 0.381 batting average, a 0.595 slugging percentage, and a 0.480 on base percentage.  Villalobos also has scored 11 runs, has three doubles, two home runs, and 11 runs batted in. Sara Runia leads the Knights in home runs with three on the season.

The pitching staff is anchored by Shannon Lieber and Baileigh Oleson.  Lieber has a 6.37 earned run average in 41 innings pitched.  She has 17 strike outs and has allowed 13 walks and five home runs.   Oleson has a 5.55 earned run average in 35.2 innings pitched.  Oleson has 18 strikeouts and has allowed 17 walks and 12 home runs.

The Buccaneers played their first games of their season today against Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado.  The Lady Buccaneers were 27 – 18 a year ago and return nine sophomores including Alissa Keeler, who led the team in hitting with a 0.467 and a 0.895 slugging percentage.  She had 13 home runs and 51 runs batted in.

In the circle, the Lady Buccaneers return Jackie Thomas and Chezarae Garcia, along with Keeler.  Thomas went 5  – 0 on the season, had a 1.70 earned run average, striking out 28 and only allowing two home runs.  Garcia went 2 – 5 on the season with a 4.72 earned run average.  Garcia struck out 41 and allowed two home runs on the season.

Game times for both days are at 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. CDT.

All games will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1410 and on www.northplattepost.com.  It will also be live streamed on www.coachesaid.com.