The North Platte Community College Knights Softball team opened up their three day, six game road trip by sweeping the Central Community College Lady Raiders on Friday 11 – 5 and 5 – 2 increasing their winning streak to five games.
The games were National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II games.
In the first game, the Knights opened up the scoring on a run by Audrie Conner. Conner reached on an error by Lady Raider third baseman Kady Lockmon. Mahena Chang singled to score Conner to make the score 1 – 0. The Lady Raiders answered back with a run in their half of the first. They took the lead in the bottom of the second to take the lead 3 – 1. The Knights scored five runs in the third inning to take the lead 6 – 3. Brittney Odum opened up the inning by singling to left field. Conner reached on an error by the Lady Raider second baseman which advanced Odum to second. Odum scored on a single by Chang. The Knights pulled off a double steal with Chang stealing second and Conner stealing home. Sara Villalobos walked and advanced to second on a single by Jessica Jarvis, which also put Chang on third. Sara Runia doubled, scoring Chang and Villalobos and advancing Jarvis to third. Jarvis scored when Caroline Motis reached on the second error by Lockmon.
Shelbi Dittmer of Central hit a solo home run and Alicia Bigelow scored a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 6 – 5 in favor of the Knights. The Knights increased their lead to 9 – 5 in the top of the fourth with runs by Shannon Lieber, Chang and Villalobos.
In the top of the sixth, the Knights Runia sealed the win with a two-run home run scoring Christina Rodie. Runia had five runs batted in, in game one to help her own cause. Runia pitched a complete game allowing five runs, three of them earned, on five hits. She also struck out four Lady Raiders to get the win in game one.
In the second game, the Lady Raiders scored in the bottom of the first when Jacy Bretschneider singled, advanced to second and then scored on a single by Shelbi Dittmer.
The Knights Jarvis started off the top of the second reaching base on an error by Bretschneider and scored on a single by Tara Crouch. Shelby Clark singled to keep the rally going, advancing Crouch to second. Odum singled to score Crouch. Odum scored on a fielder’s choice by Conner to put the Knights ahead 3 – 1.
Alissa Edwards of Central walked and scored on a single by Aney Pasold to cut the Knights lead to 3 – 2.
The Knights added some insurance runs in the top of the fifth when Chang was hit by a pitch, Villalobos singled and Runia doubled to knock in both Chang and Villalobos to make the score 5 – 2.
Runia drove in seven runs on the day.
Shannon Lieber was in the circle and pitched a complete game for the win. Lieber allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out five Lady Raiders.
Villalobos had four hits on the day to lead the Knights.
The Knights improve to 8 – 12 on the season and 2 – 0 in Region IX Division II play. Central is now 2 – 4 on the season and 0 – 2 in Region IX play.
The Knights travel to Beatrice on Saturday March 14 to play Southeast Community College in a doubleheader. Those games are also Region IX Division II games. Game times are at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. CDT.
The Knights will conclude their road trip on Sunday when they travel to Council Bluffs, Iowa to face Iowa Western Community College. Game times are at noon and 2:00 p.m. CDT