NPCC Athletics
North Platte, Neb. – North Platte finishes the weekend road trip with a doubleheader loss to Central Community College on Sunday.
Central 11 North Platte 1
The Raiders tacked on one run in the bottom of the first inning, before stretching their lead to 11-0 with two runs in the third and eight in the fourth.
North Platte avoided the shutout with a run in the top of the fifth inning. Back-to-back errors by the Central shortstop put two North Platte runners at first and second. A fielder’s choice moved Samantha Seger to third, before a ball hit on the right side of the infield plated the baserunner from third.
Sheena Smith pitched all four innings for the Knights allowing 11 runs on nine hits and struck out two in game one.
Central 8 North Platte 6
A Braelyn Sindelar home run put the Raiders out front in the bottom of first inning, before the Knights exploded for five runs in the top of the third.
Byanka Tyan drew a walk to open the inning before back-to-back singles loaded the bases with no one down. Alieze Moreno waited patiently in the box and on the seventh pitch of the at bat drew a walk to knot the game at 1-1.
A single by Victoria Arellano plated two baserunners to stretch the North Platte lead to 3-1. North Platte would go on to tally two more runs in the inning to stretch their lead to four. Central fought back with three runs in the bottom of the third, before regaining the lead with three runs in the fourth.
North Platte managed one run in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single by Arellano. Central added one more run in the bottom of the frame, while holding off the Knights in the top of the seventh to earn the win.
Sarah Perez surrendered four runs on three hits in just three innings of work in the circle. Arellano came on in relief but allowed four runs on seven hits in the loss.
North Platte (0-10, 0-4 Region IX) will return to the Dowhower Sports Complex for a doubleheader with Dakota College at Bottineau on Saturday beginning at noon.