Cougars split weekend doubleheaders versus conference opponents

By Kaleigh Tull, NICC work-study student

The second weekend of softball games in Farley Park consisted of four competitive games against conference competition. It resulted in splits against the Central Raiders and Northeast Hawks.

GAME ONE (Central)

The Cougars pulled out a close 5-4 victory, jumping ahead early with two runs in both the first and second innings. Bronwyn Harding led the offense with a home run and two runs batted in (RBI), while Natalie Nenne added two RBI of her own to extend the lead. Allison Luka chipped in with another run, and Kyleigh McConnell executed a sacrifice to keep runners moving.

Addison Murilla was strong in the circle once again, throwing all seven innings allowing just four hits, three earned runs and striking out ten. Central Community College rallied late with only one run in the fifth inning and three runs in the top of the seventh to tie up the game, but the Cougars rallied to score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

Game one performers:
Harding - HR, 2 RBI
Murilla - 7 IP, 10 K

GAME TWO (Central)

After a successful first game, the Cougars struggled in a 9-1 loss, with the Raiders scoring in each of the first four innings. Peyton Mengel started in the circle, pitching one inning and allowing four earned runs before Kaleigh Tull took over in relief. Tull pitched four innings, only allowing one earned run with two strikeouts.

The Cougars only run came in the fourth inning when Adelyn Miller crushed a solo home run, which was NICC's only run in the game.

Game two performers:
Miller - HR, RBI
Tull - 4 IP, 2 K

GAME ONE (Northeast)

The Cougars got started early with a Miller sac-fly, bringing home Ella Clark in the first. Northeast quickly tied the game after that and went on to win, 6-1.

Natalie Nenne added a double later in the game, but the offense struggled to generate anything further. The Hawks gradually pulled ahead with another in the fifth inning before putting up two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. Despite the strong start, the Cougars couldn't keep up with the Hawks.

Game one performers:
Nenne - 2B
Miller - Sac Fly, RBI

GAME TWO (Northeast)

The Cougars shook off the first game and came back in the second to pull out a 4-3 come-from-behind victory. NICC started early, scoring first with one run in both the second and third innings, powered by a double from Miller and a solo home run from Nenne. Mengel delivered a solid start in the circle, going 5.1 innings while allowing just two earned runs and striking out two. Murilla finished the final 1.2 innings, giving up one run and striking out one to secure the win.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, McConnell drew a walk, and back-to-back errors allowed Jensen Beaton and McConnell to reach, with McConnell scoring to tie the game. After Harding stole second and Clark reached on a fielder's choice, Nenne hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Harding for the walk-off win.

Game two performers:
Miller - 2B
Nenne - HR, 2 RBI, Sac Fly