Feb. 13, 2008

By Anthony Arroyo Journal-Advocate sports reporter

STERLING -- After the Plainsmen baseball team earned a split in low-scoring affairs Sunday afternoon, the bats came to play Monday against Colorado Northwestern Community College, resulting in another split day.

Northeastern Junior College took Game 1 in very windy conditions, 15-9, while suffering a 10-3 defeat in the second game of the doubleheader. Back-to-back splits start the Plainsmen with a 2-2 overall record.

"It was one of those weekends where we could have taken all four games or they could have taken all four," NJC baseball head coach Bryan Shepherd said. "We were fortunate that we took a split in the two days."

Game 1 saw the lead change on multiple occasions, due in part to the wind. There was one foul ball that curved back into fair grounds, which opened a big inning for Colorado Northwestern.

Even with the wind out of control, the Plainsmen kept battling. NJC would take a 8-7 lead in the fifth inning and would open things up in the top half of the seventh, thanks to a three-run homer from Laramie, Wyo., sophomore Josh Warren. Sophomore Arvin Perez would pitch the final three innings for the win.

The second game didn't go as well for NJC. However, it did start off promising. Sophomore Danny Brock kick started the Plainsmen with a two-run homer to give his team a 2-0 lead after one inning.

In the very next inning, NJC gave up two homers in a three-run inning for Colorado Northwestern and the team would have an uphill battle from there. Northeastern couldn't catch a break, as the team had runners in scoring position nearly every inning, but couldn't push across any runs.

"We hit the ball hard, but hit it right to them." Shepherd said. "Every time we scored, we gave it right back to them and in that second game, we just couldn't catch a break."

NJC would score one more run, taking the season split over the two days. For opening weekend, the coaching staff likes what they saw for the most part, but they know work still needs to be done.

"We pitched well and we swung the bats pretty good, but overall it was an up-and-down weekend," Shepherd said. "There are some things defensively that we will look into and make the proper adjustments."

The coach also added that he recalls five throwing errors from the left side of the diamond, but mentions it will be healed over time through repetition as the season progresses.

The men will not be back home until March 8. NJC will be very familiar with Kansas for the next two weekends, as they travel to Liberal, Kan., this weekend and Dodge City, Kan., the following weekend.

The baseball program also thanks everyone for their involvement in prepping the field for opening weekend