The Western Nebraska Community College and Otero Junior College softball teams will face off one more time for all the marbles on Monday after each team captured one game on Sunday at Volunteer Field.

               WNCC captured the first game 4-3 as Kayla Romey scored on a sacrifice fly by Angel Council in the seventh inning for the win.

               The second game saw the Rattlers get some last inning magic, earning a 4-3 win in eight innings to even the series and forcing a decisive third game Monday evening at 5 p.m. The winner wins the Region IX championship and hosts the district final against the Kansas region winner for the right to advance to the national tournament in St. George, Utah.

               Sunday, however, saw an intense battle between two teams that have won over 50 games each. In the opener, Otero held a 3-0 lead over the Cougars after a 2-run home run in the third. WNCC finally cracked the scoreboard with two runs in the third. Lindsey Shiels-Brophy and Kayla Romey led off with single and both came around to score on a Bianca Duran single.

               The Cougars tied the game in the fifth as Danielle Hearn doubled and came around to score on a throwing error by the catcher.

               The lead stayed tied the bottom of the seventh. Romey started things with a bunt single. Duran then doubled to centerfield and then Kasey Cash was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Council then lifted a foul ball to left field and Romey tagged up and scored the winning run.

               WNCC pounded out seven hits in the contest, led by Duran and Romey with two hits each. Romey scored two runs while Duran had a double and RBI.

               Duran also captured the win in the circle, scattering eight hits and allowing three runs. Duran also walked three and struck out three.

               Otero jumped on top early, scoring single runs in the first and second inning. WNCC sliced the lead in half in the bottom of the second as Shelby McGraw earned a walk and then scored on a Shiels-Brophy double.

               WNCC finally took the lead, scoring twice in the third on just three hits. Duran led off with a double, her 29th of the season which breaks the record set back in 2008 by Kara Ryman. Cash then walked. Pinch runner Melanie Rowson and Cash each  scored on a single by Mariah Shepherd to put WNCC up 3-2.

               Otero came right back to tie the game at 3-3 in the fourth on a 2-out double. Otero took the lead in the eight as Dusti Morrison singles and scored on a triple to right field. WNCC had one last gasp in the eighth as Jennifer Cottle led off with a walk and then Shiels-Brophy singed, but the runners were left stranded forcing a third and final game on Monday.

               Otero out-hit the Cougars for the second time 10-8. Duran led the way with a 3-for-4 game with a double. Shiels-Brophy also registered two hits in the game, Council also had a double in the game.

               Duran picked up the loss in the circle, going eight innings in scattering 10 hits and striking out five and walking three. Otero’s Taylor Hall had a sparkling outing, scattering eight hits, but striking out eight. For the two games, Hall struck out 14.

 

First Game

Otero                   012 000 0 — 3 8 2

WNCC                  002 010 1 — 4 7 1

WP — Bianca Duran; 2B — Duran, Danielle Hearn

 

Second Game

Otero (52-9)        110 100 01 — 4 10 1        

WNCC (55-9)      012 000 00 — 3 8 4

LP — Duran; 2B — Duran, Angel Council, Lindsey Shiels-Brophy.