Bison softball '3-peats' as GNAC tourney champs

Monday, October 1, 2007

KEARNEY -- The McCook Bison softball team captured the Greater Nebraska Athletic Conference championship at Kearney on Saturday.

McCook downed North Platte 7-0, then beat Hastings 4-1 in the semifinals (avenging a loss from the LSE tournament last weekend) and beat Columbus 6-0 in the finals.

This makes the third year in a row for the GNAC championship for the Bison.

In the first round game against North Platte, Amanda Einspahr led off with a base on balls. Jessica Einspahr followed with a base hit to right-center field. Austin Wilson and Danae McCorkle both walked, scoring Amanda Einspahr.

Kirstie Hiatt reached on an error by the pitcher, scoring Jessica Einspahr. Marissa Wallace walked, scoring Wilson. North Platte retired the side, stranding three Bison runners.

In the second inning, Jessica Einspahr hit a deep shot to left for a triple, and Einspahr scoring on an error on the relay from left field.

Einspahr's finger was struck by a pitch prior to the hit. Wilson followed with a single, advanced to second on a walk by McCorkle.

Kirstie Hiatt followed with a deep hit, for a double, scoring Wilson and McCorkle. The Bulldogs retired the Bison side, stranding one baserunner, with McCook leading 6-0.

In the top of the third, the Bison had their third defensive stop. In the bottom of the third, the Bison had no hits and no runs, with North Platte recording a double play to end the inning.

The Bulldogs threatened to score in the top of the fourth, recording two base hits in the inning. The Bison retired the side, stranding runners on third and second.

Jessica Einspahr and Wilson both singled in the bottom of the fourth frame. Both Einspahr and Wilson were thrown out at third on fielder's choice hit by McCorkle and Hiatt.

The Bison stranded both runners to end the inning. The Bison had a three-and-out defensive stop in the top of the fifth frame.

In the bottom of the fifth, Wallace led off with a single, Ashley Carfield singled, advancing Wallace. Kali Lyons hit a fielder's choice to second base, scoring Wallace.

North Platte retired the side, stranding one runner for the Bison. The Bison held the Bulldogs in the sixth, retiring the side with runners on second and first.

Time expired before the bottom of the sixth inning was completed. The Bison won by a score of 7-0.

Kirstie Hiatt picked up the win for the Bison, allowing two hits, no runs, and two walks, while striking out 10 batters in six complete innings.

In the semifinals against Hastings, the Tigers loaded the bases in the top of the first, but McCook retired the side, stranding three runners.

Amanda Einspahr reached on an error by the first baseman. McCorkle followed with a walk.

Koetter reached on an error by the shortstop, scoring Einspahr. Sarah Craw singled to left field, scoring McCorkle.

The Bison flied out to left to end the inning, leading 2-0.

Hastings recorded one base hit in the top of the second, but thebrunner was stranded at second.

Wallace recorded the lone base hit in the inning.

Wallace's courtesy runner, Meagan Carfield advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kali Lyons. North Platte retired the side, stranding Carfield at third.

McCook recorded two base hits in the next two frames, with Sarah Craw singling in the third, and Lyons singling in the fourth. No runs were scored by the Bison.

Hastings had no hits and no runs in the third and fourth. In the top of the fifth inning, Hastings scored one run on two base hits, a double and a single. The Bison retired the side leading 2-1.

McCook had no runs and no hits in the bottom of the fifth. McCook retired the Hastings' side with one runner on in the top of the sixth.

In the bottom of the sixth, Wallace led off with a base on balls, Amanda Einspahr followed with a single, advancing Meagan Carfield, Wallace's courtesy runner.

Jessica Einspahr grounded out, advancing Carfield and Amanda Einspahr on the fielder's choice. Wilson followed with a base hit to left, scoring both Carfield and Einspahr. The Bison flied out to end the inning, leading 4-1 after six innings.

The Bison defense recorded a double play for the third out, in the top of the seventh inning. McCorkle caught a fly ball in centerfield and doubled off the runner at first to end the game.

Marissa Wallace picked up the win for the Bison, allowing six hits, four walks, and one run, while striking out six in six complete innings. Hiatt went one inning, allowing no hits and no runs, while striking out one.

McCook avenged a loss from the previous week, downing Columbus 6-0 in the championship game.

Leadoff hitter Amanda Einspahr reached on an error by the third baseman, and stole second base. Jessica Einspahr followed with a base hit to left-center field.

Amanda Einsphar was thrown out at home plate, attempting to score on the hit. Wilson followed with a double to left, scoring Jessica Einspahr.

Hatt followed with a base hit to left, scoring Wilson.

Hiatt's courtesy runner, Meagan Carfield was thrown out attempting to steal second base to end their half of the inning.

Columbus threatened to score in the bottom of the inning, recording two base hits, but pitcher Kirstie Hiatt struck out the Discoverers' side to end the inning, leading 2-0.

Both team defenses held until the top of the sixth inning, with Columbus recording the only base hit for eitherteam in the next four frames in the bottom of the second inning.

In the top of the sixth, Jessica Einspahr was hit in the face mask by the pitcher, to reach first base.

Einspahr stole second base, advanced to third on a fielder's choice hit by Wilson, and scored on an error by the first baseman.

McCorkle followed with a double to left-center field. Sarah Craw reached on an error by the third baseman.

Wallace singled to left-center field, scoring McCorkle. Ashley Carfield followed with a base hit to left, scoring Craw.

McCook grounded out to the pitcher to end its half of the inning, leading 5-0.

The Bison recorded another three-and-out defensive stop in the bottom of the sixth.

Jessica Einspahr singled in the top of the seventh. Danae McCorkle followed with a base hit to left-center field, advancing Wilson.

Hiatt followed with a single to left, scoring Einspahr. The Bison popped up to their second baseman for the third out.

McCook recorded its fifth three-and-out defensive stop in the game, to end the game with McCook winning by a score of 6-0.

Kirstie Hiatt had another impressive performance on the mound, allowing three hits, no walks and no runs, while striking out 13 Columbus batters.

The Bison are 22-4 on the season and open up district play Thursday in North Platte.

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