North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knights softball team split a doubleheader against Central Community College Lady Raiders on Thursday afternoon, losing the first game 16-4 and winning the second game 12-9 in a Region IX Division II matchup
In game number one, the Lady Raiders started the scoring early, putting seven runs up in the first inning. Danica Schaeffer of Central led off the second inning with a solo home run. The Lady Raiders added two more runs to increase their lead to 10-0 after two innings.
The added to their lead with three more runs in the third on a three run home run by Tori Mullen, and also three more runs in the fourth inning to take a 16-0 lead into the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, with Alexandra Baldner, Mikayla Gibson, and Alyiah Franco on base, Hallei Morales, a graduate of North Platte High School, hit the ball over the centerfield fence for a grand slam to account for the Knights scoring.
Emily Marsden pitched five innings and took the loss for the Knights. Kaitlyn Keene took the win for the Lady Raiders.
In game two, the Lady Raiders continued where they left off by scoring four runs in the first inning, including a two-run home run by Jenna Robinson.
The Knights got one of the runs back on a solo home run by Franco to cut the Lady Raider lead to 4-1.
The Lady Raiders got the run back in the second by Mariah Watchorn.
In the Knights half of the second, the Knights scored four runs to tie the score at 5-5. After the Lady Raiders added a run in the third to take a 6-5 lead, the Knights scored six runs, including a three-run home run by Morales to take an 11-6 lead after three innings.
The Lady Raiders added two runs to cut the lead to 11-6.
The Knights scored their final run in the fifth inning by Gibson to increase the lead to 12-8.
The Lady Raiders added a run in the seventh to finish out the scoring.
Marsden took the win for the Knights and Baylee Conley took the loss for the Lady Raiders.
The Knights are now 4-28 on the season and 3-7 in Region IX Division II play. The Lady Raiders are 17-18 overall and 9-3 in Region IX Division II play.
The Knights will travel to Beatrice to play a doubleheader against Southeast Community College on Saturday in their final Region IX Division II contests.