Cougars break slump with two wins over Central CC

By Kaleigh Tull, NICC work-study student

The Cougar softball team started the season very well, hanging around the .500 mark until the midway point in the season. However, a string of tough Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) opponents pushed NICC into a recent slump.

GONE (Hawkeye)

The Cougars came up short on the road at Hawkeye CC in game one, falling 9-6 to the RedTails. After coming up scoreless early, the Cougars pushed home two runs in the fifth inning and then rallied, adding four more in the seventh. Bronwyn Harding and Natalie Nenne powered the offense with home runs, with Nenne driving in four runs and Harding adding two more. However, the RedTails built their lead early with four runs in the second inning and five more in the fifth inning.

Game one performers:
Nenne - HR, 4 RBI
Harding - HR, 2 RBI

GAME 2 (Hawkeye)

After a slow start offensively in game one, the Cougars didn't make that mistake again. NICC started strong with two runs in the first inning and three more in the third. Home runs from Nenne and Adelyn Miller drove the offense. Nenne had two runs batted in (RBI), while Miller led the way driving in three. That wasn't enough to beat the RedTails, who had a big four-run second inning and a late run in each the sixth and seventh to secure the win.

Game two performers:
Nenne - HR, 2 RBI
Miller - HR, 3 RBI

GAME ONE (Iowa Central)

The Cougars dropped a 4-1 game against the Iowa Central (ICC) Tritons despite a solid performance in the circle. The Tritons struck early, scoring one run in each of the first and third innings, before adding two more in the seventh.

The Cougars avoided the shutout with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as Rylee Madden drove in the team's lone run. Addison Murilla dominated, pitching all seven innings while allowing four runs, only two of which were earned, and striking out six. Despite this performance, the Cougars offense couldn't find enough momentum to pull out the win.

Game one performers:
Madden - 1 RBI
Murilla - 7 IP, 2 ER, 6 K

GAME TWO (Iowa Central)

NICC fell again in game two to the Tritons, 7-1. ICC built a steady lead with runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings before adding two more in the sixth and one in the seventh. The Cougars only run came in the bottom of the seventh, with Madden driving in the team's lone run. Despite the late push, the early offensive struggle was too much to overpower the Tritons.

Game two performers:
Madden - RBI

GAME ONE (DMACC)

The Cougars struggled at the plate against a ranked DMACC team, losing 11-0. The Cougars gave the Bears an early lead, allowing them to score seven runs in the second inning, one run in the third and three runs in the fourth. The Cougars were unable to generate any offense, and despite their efforts defensively, the large deficit and lack of hits made it difficult to recover.

GAME TWO (DMACC)

After a rough game one, NICC was able to hold the Bears to less runs, losing 8-0. After giving up a run in the first inning, the game broke open in the fourth inning with five runs, followed by two more in the fifth. Offensively, the Cougars managed a couple hits from Miller and Nenne but couldn't turn them into runs.

Game two performers:
Miller - 1 H
Nenne - 1 H

GAME ONE (NIACC)

The Cougars fell behind early and couldn't recover in a 4-1 loss to the North Iowa Area Community College (NIACC) Spartans. The Spartans did all their damage in the first inning, putting up four runs to take control of the game right away.

NICC's bats were quiet most of the game but avoided the shutout with a run in the seventh, as Alli Luka drove in the teams only run. Peyton Mengel settled in after the first inning, pitching 5.2 innings while allowing four runs, three of which were earned, and striking out three. Kaleigh Tull provided solid relief, throwing 1.1 scoreless innings with one strikeout to close out the game.

Game one performers:
Luka - RBI
Mengel - 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 3 K

GAME TWO (NIACC)

NICC was shutout in a 4-0 loss to the Spartans, as the visitors scored two runs in the third inning, one run in the fifth and one in the seventh to secure the win.

Offensively, the Cougars managed a few hits, with Miller leading the way with two, while Nenne and Mengel each added one. However, they were unable to string them together to push a run across. In the circle, Murilla went the distance, pitching all seven innings, allowing four runs and striking out eight. The lack of offensive support proved to be costly.

Game two performers:
Miller - 2 H
Murilla - 7 IP, 4 ER, 8 K

GAME ONE (Central)

The Cougars dominated game one on the road with a 9-1 win over the Central Community College (CCC) Raiders. They came out strong with three runs in the first inning, one in the second, three more in the fifth and two in the seventh.

Jensen Beaton and Nenne each doubled, while Mengel added a triple to lead the offense. Beaton and Mengel each had three RBI, Nenne drove in two and Ella Clark drove in one. On the mound, Murilla earned the win, throwing six strong innings while allowing just one unearned run and striking out seven. Kaleigh Tull closed with a scoreless seventh inning to secure the victory.

Game one performers:
Mengel - 3B, 3 RBI
Murilla - 6 IP, 0 ER, 7 K

GAME TWO (CENTRAL)

The Cougars completed the sweep against CCC with a tight 3-2 win. After falling behind early, they answered with a run in the fourth and took the lead with two more runs in the fifth.

Nenne and Miller each doubled and drove in a run, while Brooke Matic added a RBI to round out the scoring. Tull earned the win in the circle with a strong six-inning performance, allowing two runs, both unearned, while striking out three. Murilla closed the seventh inning, giving up just one hit and striking out two to help secure the victory.

Game two performers:
Nenne - 2B, RBI
Miller - 2B, RBI
Tull - 6 IP, 0 ER, 3K