The North Platte Community College Knights softball team clinched the top seed in the upcoming National Junior College Athletic Association Region IX Division II tournament, by sweeping the Southeast Community College Lady Storm in a double header 13 – 1 and 12 – 4.
The Knights improve to 16 – 20 and 7 – 1 in region play. By clinching the top seed, they will receive a first round bye.
In the first game the Knights jumped out early by scoring five runs in the first inning. The first run was caused by a bases loaded walk to Shannon Lieber scoring Jessica Jarvis. Shelby Clark and Baileigh Oleson each had runs batted in during the first inning. Brittney Odum had two runs batted in during the inning on a double.
The Knights scored six runs in the third inning, highlighted by Odum and Caroline Motis, both of whom doubled, as well as a three-run home run by Jazmine Chang to make the score 11 – 0.
Sara Villalobos hit a two-run home run scoring Motis to make the score 13 – 0.
The Lady Storm scored their only run in the fifth when Destiny Worthey singled and scored on a single by Alexis Graewe.
Lieber pitched the five inning complete game, allowing only one run on five hits.
In game two, the Knights scored first on a solo home run by Lieber in the second inning.
The Lady Storm stormed back with their only four runs of the game in the top half of the third to take a 4 – 1 lead. They opened the inning with Graewe reaching on an error. Megan Hartman and Breanna Johnson had back to back ground rule doubles. Johnson scored on a two-run home run by Kristin Thomas.
The Knights tied the score in the fourth on a two-run home run by Oleson, scoring Shelby Clark. The Knights took the lead in the fifth inning with five runs including Villalobos’ second home run of the day which scored Jarvis.
In the sixth, Sara Runia hit a two-run home run to increase the lead to 11- 4. The final run of the game came when Oleson singled to score Clark to end the game.
Oleson pitched the complete game allowing four runs on five hits. She struck out nine Lady Storm hitters.
The Knights are in action next on Wednesday, April 15, when they travel to play the Hastings College Junior Varsity Lady Broncos in a double header. Game times are at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. CDT.