CONCORDIA, Kan. – A late go-ahead home run in game one would see the Cloud County Community College softball team drop a 4-3, one-run decision in game one before falling by a score of 11-2 to be swept by number-eight ranked Highland Community College at the CCCC Softball Field in Concordia, Kansas on Tuesday, March 30th.

The losses drop the T-Birds to 6-8 overall and 1-7 in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference while the Scotties extended their winning streak to 13 games to remain the only undefeated team in conference play at the Division II level with a 6-0 mark in the KJCCC.

GAME ONE:
Entering Tuesday's doubleheader averaging nearly 7.5 runs per contest, Cloud County would hold limit the Scottie offense throughout the game as HCC turn a one-out walk in the top of the first into a run before adding a second run in the top of the second with a leadoff single and two out-RBI double. The T-Birds would strand a pair of runners in the bottom half of the first and another runner in the bottom of the second as CCCC would have opportunities but be unable to capitalize.

Another run would come across for Highland in the top of the third as two hits would lead to a run to make it a 3-0 lead, but Cloud County would come storming back in the bottom half of the inning as four of the first five batters of the inning would safely reach base with three hits leading three runs. Rae Ann Hartwig would hit an RBI double and Emily Dunaway would have an RBI single down the right field line in the inning as CCCC would get right back into the contest by tying things up at 3-3 heading to the fourth.

Both teams would go down in order in both the fourth and fifth innings, leaving things at a 3-3 tie as the game would go to the top of the sixth. Highland would then strand a runner in the top of the sixth as a potential go-ahead run would be left at third, but Cloud County wouldn't be able to get anything going in their end of the sixth as a one-out single would be followed by back-to-back strikeouts. A two-out solo home run in the top of the seventh allowed HCC to reclaim the lead at 4-3 as Cloud County would once again face a deficit before going down in order to end the game.

Limited to just six hits in the game, Cloud County would also work two walks but strand five runners as each of the first six players in the lineup would record one hit each. The T-Birds would wind up stealing four bases in the game, with freshman Kayla Lee stealing two bases to go along with one from Shayna Fila and Taylor Glause. In the circle it would be Delaney Miller who would throw a complete game and strike out five, but wind up taking the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits. The Fairbury, Nebraska native would wind up throwing a total of 107 pitches with 70 pitches being thrown for strikes.

GAME TWO:
Highland would once again strike early in the contest as the Scotties would plate two runs in the top of the first before adding three in the top of the second go to up 5-0 after two innings of play. Cloud County would finally manage to hold HCC scoreless in the top of the third by working around a two-out walk to get back up to bat where Lee would lead things off with a single and stolen base before back-to-back groundouts would bring home CCCC's first run of the game.

After a scoreless fourth inning, Highland would use a leadoff double to plate a run in the top of the fifth to go back up by a five-run margin but see Cloud County respond with a leadoff triple from Lee before a Fila RBI single would get the T-Birds back within four. CCCC would wind up stranding a runner to end the inning as they would be unable to get back any more runs before heading to the top of the sixth.

Another single run from the Scotties in the top of the sixth would be followed up by a four-run inning for Highland in the top of the seventh as a fielding error would lead to all four runs coming home as unearned runs. CCCC would be unable to get anything going offensively in their final at-bat of the game as HCC would manage to hold on to the nine-run victory to sweep the day.

Cloud County's two runs would come on nine hits as Fila and Glause would be responsible for CCCC's only RBI's of the contest with the pair combining for three hits in seven at-bats. Lee and Taylor Burks would both have two hits as Lee would record the only extra-base hit of the game for the T-Birds while also adding another stolen base to finish the day with three. Kyra Meyer would toss her fourth complete game of the year, throwing 147 pitches (93 strikes) and allow 11 runs (seven earned) on 14 hits while striking out one.

What's Next?
Cloud County will be back at home to close out their week on Thursday, April 1st with a 2 p.m. doubleheader against number-18 nationally ranked Labette Community College. The Cardinals are 14-8 overall and off to a 5-1 start in the KJCCC following a pair of six-inning wins over Coffeyville Community College at home on Monday afternoon.