Knights leave Broncos in the dust

North Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College's softball team swept Hastings College Monday evening at the Dowhower Softball Complex. The Knights downed the Broncos 19-11 and 23-8. 

The first game started out with a challenging back-and-forth battle. North Platte captured the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Lili Kukučková doubled on a fly ball to center field – driving one in. 

Angelina Lockhart was in the pitcher's circle for the Knights. She surrendered 11 runs on 11 hits over six innings, striking out nine. 

The Knights were boosted by Cameron Rollison who went 4-for-5 at the plate. Rollison singled in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. 

Elena Montoya had a homer in the fourth inning. 

The game was tied at 11 with North Platte batting in the bottom of the fifth when Esper Lewandowski singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring one run. 

NPCC totaled 23 hits altogether. Montoya managed four, and Lewandowski, Kukučková, Lockhart, Kelsey Woodhouse, Jayden Horner and Gwen Anderson also notched multiples. 

In game two, the Knights took the lead in the bottom of the first inning, tied briefly at the top of the second then pulled away for good by the bottom of the second inning. 

The latter was thanks in part to Anderson, who doubled on a 0-1 count, scoring one run, and Rollison, who singled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring another run. 

The Knights tallied 12 runs in the fourth inning. Rollison, Horner, Montoya, Kukučková and Woodhouse powered through with RBIs. 

Jenny Singer led things off on the rubber for NPCC. The righthander allowed four hits and six runs over two innings, striking out three. 

The Knights had three home runs in the game. Kukučková had a homer in the fourth inning, and Montoya had a dinger in the third and fourth innings. 

Rollison, Kukučková, Anderson, Woodhouse, Montoya, Lockhart and Taelyn Dakamas all managed multiple hits for NPCC. Kukučková and Rollison each had five. 

"Our offense and defense showed up, and they played hard," said Janelle Higgins, NPCC head women's softball coach. "We had a few moments where we got comfortable but then turned the energy back in our favor. We listened very well today and made the adjustments we needed to and made those adjustments early." 

The wins put North Platte at 5-25 on the season. 

The Knights will take on Iowa Western Community College in a doubleheader at home on Wednesday. First pitch is at 5 p.m. at the Dowhower Softball Complex in North Platte.

The most up-to-date information about NPCC athletics can be found on the Knights Facebook and Twitter accounts and online at npccknights.com.