The North Platte Community College Knights softball team was swept by the McCook Community College Lady Indians at Jaycee Sports Complex 10 – 5 and 4 – 2.

The games were declared Purple – Out day to focus on Epilepsy Awareness.  Abbee Terry, a McCook resident who has epilepsy, threw out the first pitch of game one.

In the first game, the Knights scored one run by Christina Rodie.  Rodie singled and advanced to third on a double by Sara Runia and scored on a groundout to the shortstop by Sara Villalobos.

The Lady Indians answered back by scoring three runs in the bottom of the first.  The inning started out with a walk to Megan Ruppert and a single by Stephenie Johnson.  The runners advanced when Mackenzie Bilger reached on an error scoring Ruppert.  Averi Miller doubled to score Bilger and Johnson.

With the Lady Indians leading 4 – 1 the Knights took the lead 5 – 4 with four runs  in the top of the third. The inning started with singles by Rodie and Villalobos.  Jessica Jarvis tripled to knock in Rodie and Villalobos.  Jarvis scored on an RBI single by Shannon Lieber.  Lieber scored when Tara Crouch tripled.  The four runs chased Lady Indian pitcher Robin Harrison.  Harrison pitched 2.2 innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits. Miranda Sanchez came in to the game and pitched 4.1 scoreless innings to get the win

The Lady Indians tied the score at five in their half of the third on a triple by Madison Chitwood, who scored on Miller’s second double of the game.

McCook put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth with five runs.  The crushing blow was when Amber Madigan homered over the left field fence.

The Knights threatened in the top of the seventh when they had the bases loaded.  Shannon Lieber flied out to centerfield to end the game.

Baileigh Oleson pitched six innings and allowed 10 runs, three of them earned, on eight hits to pick up the loss.  Oleson struck out one Lady Indian hitter.

The Knights outhit the Lady Indians nine to eight, led by Jessica Jarvis with two hits including the triple.

In game two, the Lady Indians opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first on RBI singles by Miranda Santiago and  Jasmine Pemble making the score 2 – 0.  The Knights cut the Lady Indian lead to one in the top of the second on a solo home run by Sara Villalobos.

McCook added another run in both the fifth and sixth innings making the score 4 – 1.

The Knights scored their only other run in the seventh on a solo home run by Shannon Lieber.  The Knights tried to rally when Baileigh Oleson and Brittney Odum singled. Oleson tried to score on the play but was thrown out at the plate by McKinley Earnest to end the game.

The Knights were led in the second game by Villalobos who had two hits in three at bats, a double and the home run.  Odum also had two hits in game two.

Shannon Lieber took the loss for the Knights.  Lieber pitched six innings, allowed four runs on 10 hits and struck out eight Lady Indians.

Pemble paced the Lady Indians at the plate with three hits, including a triple.  She also scored one run, one run batted in and one stolen base.

Earnest got the win for the Lady Indians.  She went seven innings, allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out five batters.

The Knights fall to 10-16 on the season, 4 – 2 in the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference (NCCAC).

The Lady Indians improve to 22 – 6 on the season, 8 – 0 in the NCCAC.  They are currently on an 18 game winning streak.

The Knights return home on Friday, March 20 to play the Williston State College Tetons in a doubleheader.  Game times are at noon and 2:00 p.m.  Games may be seen on www.coachesaid.com.