The North Platte Community College Knights softball team extended their winning streak to seven by defeating the Southeast Community College Lady Storm in a double header winning both games by identical scores of 12 – 10.
The games were National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II contests.
In the first game the Knights opened up the scoring in the first inning when Audrie Conner singled and later scored on Sara Villalobos’ single to centerfield. The Lady Storm answered back with two runs in their half of the first on runs by Alexis Graewe and Callie Pinkham. The Knights came right back in the second and scored three runs. Sara Runia started out the inning by singling to left field. Shelby Clark walked. Brittney Odum singled to left field and brought in Runia. Conner batted in Clark and Odum with a single.
The Knights added to their lead in the third inning by scoring another three runs to make the score 7 – 2. Shannon Lieber reached on an error by Lady Storm second baseman Pinkham. Jessica Jarvis was hit by the pitch. Runia then singled to right advancing the runners. Lieber scored on a ground ball by Clark. Caroline Motis doubled to drive in Jarvis and Runia.
The Lady Storm battled back by scoring two runs in both the third and the fourth inning, which included a two-run home run by Megan Hartman.
The Knights got back one of the runs in the top of the fifth when Odum hit a line drive home run over the center field fence making the score 8 – 6 in favor of the Knights.
The Lady Storm weren’t done. Hartman hit her second home run of the game to lead off the bottom of the fifth to make the score 8 – 7.
The Knights broke the game open in the top of the sixth when Mehana Chang singled and then scored when Villalobos reached on an error by shortstop Graewe. Christina Rodie came in to run for Villalobos and scored along with Jarvis on Runia’s fifth home run of the season to make the score 12 – 7.
The Lady Storm scored three more runs in the sixth inning to cut the lead to 12 -10. The Lady Storm tried to rally in the seventh when the first two batters walked. They were unable to capitalize on the walks and went scoreless in the seventh.
Runia pitched the complete game for the win. She allowed 10 runs on four hits and 10 walks and struck out 3 batters.
Conner and Runia each had three hits for the Knights in game one to lead the Knights offensive attack.
In game two, the game went back and forth until the Knights exploded with seven runs in their half of the fourth to take an 11 – 5 lead. Their onslaught was powered by a two-run home run by Odum scoring Motis and a three-run home run by Clark which scored Lieber and Tara Crouch. In the fifth inning Odum walked and scored on an error by Lady Storm first baseman Nicole Zelinski to make the score 12 – 5.
The Lady Storm in their half of the fifth mounted a comeback by scoring five runs to cut the Knight lead to two.
The Lady Storm, in their seventh had the tying run on second base with one out. Knights pitcher struck out Pinkham and Breanna Johnson to strand the runners and end the game. Lieber struck out nine batters in the game and allowed only two walks.
The Knights were led offensively by Lieber, who had three hits in the game.
On the day the Knights had four home runs, including two by Odum who has six on the season. The Knights have hit a total of 20 home runs in their 22 games.
The Knights improve to 10 – 12 on the season and 4 – 0 in Region IX Division II play. The Lady Storm drop to 7 – 13 on the season and 0 – 2 in Region IX play.
The Knights continue 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.