Cottey Comets softball drops pair to St. Louis

Cottey's Christine Nevins pitches during the first of two games against St. Louis Community College Saturday.

By Greg Kepler

Special to the Daily Mail

Sunny skies and cool winds from left-center field greeted players and fans, as the Cottey College Comets hosted the softball team from Saint Louis Community College Saturday afternoon, at Vanek Family Memorial Field.

Cottey's Selena Gochenour throws to first for an out during the second of Saturday's two home losses to St. Louis Community College.

The visitors had little trouble in the first of the two-game billing, winning in a run-rule shortened, five-inning game, 16-1. Selena Gochenour knocked in the only run of the game for the Comets, when she drove in Ciera Wong in the fourth inning, recording just the second and final hit of the game for the Comets.

Christine Nevins took the loss for the Comets, allowing 16 runs -- eight earned -- on 16 hits with five walks and a strikeout in five innings in the pitching circle.

The second game started with Bronaugh native Susie Hartman pitching. With the visitors leading, 5-0, in the top of the third, Comets head coach Shelli Stanley switched Hartman to the catcher's position, sending Gochenour to shortstop and brought in Nevins to pitch.

Strong batting by St. Louis led to seven more runs that inning, giving the Comets a 12-0 deficit by the end of the inning. The Lady Archers added two more in the fourth.

Finally, in the bottom of the fourth, Cottey got its first run across the plate and trailed, 14-1. The Lady Archers picked up another run in the top of the fifth and then, the bats came alive for Cottey.

Cottey scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth. With hits and an error or two, they managed to score three that inning, but it wasn't enough as the run rule applied after five and the hosts took it on the chin, losing, 15-4.

The 0-6 Comets were scheduled to host East Central College Monday, but those results were not available at press time.