Story by NPCC Athletic Communications
North Platte, Neb. – The Knights softball team opened the season by dropping a pair of games to McCook Community College on Wednesday afternoon.
McCook 10 North Platte 0
The Indians took the lead in the top of the first inning after taking advantage of a dropped third strike to score Paige Warren from third. Two batters later, Anna Elliott sent a towering home run over center field to put the Indians up 3-0.
In the top of the second inning, the Indians drew back-to-back walks, before a wild pitch plated Ayana Goodwin from third. A single from Laila Gutierrez loaded the bases, before a single to center plated two to stretch the margin to 6-0.
The Indians added four more runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 10-0 and earn the run-rule win.
Sheena Smith pitched all five innings and gave up 10 runs on nine hits, while striking out three batters.
McCook 22 North Platte 6
The McCook bats never slowed down as they tacked on three runs in the top of the first inning. Alieze Moreno recorded the Knights first hit of the season on a fly ball to center to jump start the offense. Heaven Hutchison drew a walk to add a second base runner, before Sarah Perez sent one over the center field wall to tie the game up at 3-3.
The Indians offense powered six runs home in the top of the second inning, but an Afia Hunt home run and a single by Perez that plated Victoria Arellano drew the Knights back within four.
McCook held the Knights to just one more run in the final three innings, while tallying 13 more runs to lock up the run-rule victory.
Arellano allowed 12 runs on eight hits over two innings, before Moreno came on in relief allowing 10 runs on six hits and striking out two batters and walking five.
North Platte (0-2) will travel to Colby, Kan. on Friday for a doubleheader with the Trojans of Colby Community College. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1 p.m.