MCC Softball takes two from Broncbusters

GARDEN CITY, Kan. - The No. 13 McCook Community College softball team took a pair of games Friday on the road over Garden City Community College, winning 6-4 and 17-6.

“We played much better today both offensively and defensively,” said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall.

Sophomore Payton Kinsley (Didsbury, Alberta) slugged a pair of home runs and drove in three runs in Game 1 to back the starting pitching of sophomore Paige Warren (Victoria, British Columbia) who picked up the win in six-plus innings of work and also doubled, singled and drove in two runs of her own.

In Game 2 Warren led a 17-hit attack that included seven doubles as MCC won in five innings on the eight-run rule. Warren had three hits with a double, two walks, four stolen bases and four RBIs. Sophomore Kaliyah St. Amand (Duncan, British Columbia) picked up the win in the pitching circle with relief help from Hannah Schneider (freshman, Alliance, Neb.)

“Obviously getting a sweep against a good Garden City squad is good momentum going into a tough weekend in Texas,” said Mendenhall.

Garden City goes to 2-2 on the season. MCC improves to 3-1.

The Lady Indians will travel to Denison, Texas next weekend as one of 19 teams competing Friday and Saturday at the Texoma Health Foundation Winter Blast in Denison, Texas. The Lady Indians will face No. 22 Temple College and Murray State College (ranked No. 1 in D2) on Friday then play Northern Oklahoma-Enid and No. 21 Rose State College on Saturday.

GAME 1 – McCook CC 5, Garden City 4: The Lady Indians got on the scoreboard in the third inning after a leadoff double from Lacyn Keller (freshman, McCook) and a two-out walk and single by Kaliyah St. Amand.

Payton Kinsley popped a two-run homer in the fifth to put MCC up 3-0.

With two outs in the sixth, Ellie Baca (freshman, Greeley, Colo.) started the scoring rally with a single and Keller followed with a single. Both runners scored on a double by Paige Warren to put the Lady Indians ahead 5-0.

After two quick outs in the bottom of the sixth, Garden City pushed across a run with a pair of singles, a walk and a bases-loaded single.

Kinsley hit her second home run of the game in the seventh to give MCC a 6-1 lead. It was her third homer of the season.

The Broncbusters countered with a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh then scored on a single, a triple and two singles to chase Warren from the pitching circle. She went six innings, allowed eight hits, two walks, four earned runs and she struck out five and picked up the win (1-0).

St. Amand came on in relief and after surrendering a single, struck out the next two hitters and the final out was recorded when Kinsley threw out the runner attempting to steal third base. St. Amand picked up the save striking out two and allowing one hit.

MCC had 11 hits in the game, led by Kinsley’s two homers and three RBIs. The Lady Indians also got two hit games from Warren, St. Amand, Keller and Baca who stole three bases.

GAME 2 – McCook CC 5, Garden City 4: The Lady Indians scored two runs in the first, one in the second, six in the third, and five in the fifth to end the game in five innings on the eight-run rule.

Paige Warren had three hits including a double, two walks, four stolen bases and four RBIs.

Sophomores Kashlin Beck (Claflin, Kan.) and Audrey Reeves (Sterling, Colo.) both had two-hit, two-run, two-RBI games with doubles. Lacyn Keller two hits, including a double, three runs scored and two stolen bases.  

Hayley Smith (freshman, Chestermere, Alberta) had a three-run double. Kaliyah St. Amand had three walks and a double and Brooklyn Gillen (freshman, McCook) also had a double.

St. Amand (2-0) picked up the win pitching the first 4.1 innings, allowing three hits, six earned runs, five walks and four strikeouts. Hannah Schneider pitched the final two-thirds of an inning with one walk and two strikeouts.

Up-to-date information about MCC  softball including up-to-date schedule and changes, livestream links for home games, rosters, photos, statistics and more can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com