MCC softball squad loses two in Colorado

LaJUNTA, Colo. -- The McCook Community College women's softball team couldn't come up with a win in a Region IX double-header Monday, March 11, at Otero Junior College in LaJunta, Colo.

The Lady Indians couldn't keep an early lead in the opening game, as Otero won 16-5. The hosts also watched a lead evaporate in the nightcap in a 13-8 loss.

The games were postponed from Sunday, March 10, due to inclement weather.

Former McCook High School standout Kelsey Gillen put MCC ahead with a three-run homer in the first inning of the opening contest. But Otero answered with four runs in the bottom half of the first frame.

The hosts added four more runs in the second to take an 8-3 lead. Shelby Vasquez hit a solo homer in the top of the third to pull the Lady Indians within 8-4. MCC loaded the bases but could not score another run in the third.

Otero tallied seven unearned runs in the bottom of the third to lead 15-4.

McCook got a run back in the top of the fourth on a Skye Buecher single, a double by Vasquez and Shelby Baertsch's RBI single. MCC loaded the bases again but could not plate another run in the inning.

Otero added another run in the fourth, then McCook did not score in the fifth to end the game by the 10-run rule.

THE LADY INDIANS again grabbed an early lead in the nightcap. Former McCook High School standout Taylor Matson delivered a two-run double in the top of the first. MCC added two more runs in the third on RBI singles by Baertsch and Ashlee Adams.

Otero scored twice in the bottom of the third, thanks in part to a McCook error. The Lady Indians answered with two runs in the top of the fourth to lead 6-2, thanks to Baertsch's two-run double. The hosts scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth to lead 8-6.

Buechner's RBI single in the fifth to cut the Otero lead to 8-7. The hosts then pushed five runs across home plate in the bottom of the fifth, with help from an MCC error, to build a 13-7 cushion.

McCook tried to rally in their final at-bat. Gillen led off with a walk, followed by singles by Adams and Zoe Budge to load the bases. Buechner's sacrifice fly scored Gillen to cut the gap to 13-8. Heather Lehman singled to reload the bases. But MCC left all three runners stranded on base as Otero recorded the final out.

Baertsch went 3-for-4 at the plate with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored to pace MCC. Adams also was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Matson also had 2 hits, 2 RBI and a run scored.

The Lady Indians slipped to 1-11 overall and 0-6 in Region IX play.