Rattlers end Lady Indian win streak with Sunday sweep

LA JUNTA, Colo. – The McCook Community College softball teams’ 16-game win streak came to an end Sunday as Otero College swept a doubleheader over the Lady Indians 7-3 and 6-4.

“We were just out of element today,” said MCC Coach Mike Mendenhall. “Our pitchers threw well enough to keep us in the games.”

MCC committed two errors in Game 1 and five in Game 2 and were held to nine hits in the doubleheader.

“We didn’t have great approaches at the plate plus we need to clean up a few things defensively as well,” said Mendenhall. “Tomorrow is a new day.”

Otero College improves to 12-2 in the Region IX standings and 18-13 overall

MCC goes to 8-2 in the standings and 28-6 on the season,

These two teams will play another doubleheader again Monday starting at noon.

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

 GAME 1 – Otero College 7, McCook 3: Freshman Paige Warren (Victoria, British Columbia) led off the game with a double and scored on a two-out single from sophomore Lexi Knapp (Berthoud, Colo.).

Otero scored on a three-run home run in the bottom of the first to lead 3-1 and added two more in the second off starting pitcher Sadie Kahl (sophomore, Calgary, Alberta). The Rattlers added a run in the third to lead 6-1.

Warren singled to lead off the sixth and sophomore Laila Gutierrez (Seminole, Texas) followed with a single. Both runners each stole second and both scored on a sacrifice fly from freshman Payton Kinsley (Didsbury, Alberta) for the final MCC run.

Kahl went six innings allowed six earned runs on nine hits, three walks and two strikeouts.

MCC had six hits in the game with Warren the only player with a two-hit game.

GAME 2 – Otero College 6, McCook 4: After the Rattlers struck for a leadoff homerun in the first inning, freshman Peytann Weiland (Aurora, Colo.) tied the game in the second with a solo home run.

MCC starting pitcher Kaliyah St. Amand (freshman, Duncan, British Columbia) walked to lead off the MCC third. Sophomore Angela Banzet (Surrey, British Columbia) singled on a bunt and Paige Warren moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt and with two outs St. Amand scored on a passed ball to put MCC up 2-1.

Otero tied the game 2-2 with a leadoff home run in the fourth inning and took a 4-2lead on a RBI-single and an MCC error then went up 5-2 on an RBI-double.

Banzet walked with one out in the fifth and scored on a Warren double and added another run on a Ratter error to close the deficit to 5-4. Otero added the final run in the sixth with two outs on back-to-back MCC errors.

MCC put two runners on base via walks in the seventh but could score.

St. Amand allowed five earned runs in six innings along with six hits, four walks and seven strikeouts.

The Indians were outhit 6-3.