Omaha teams top Bison in twinbill

The McCook Bison know better than let an 0-for-4 week in Hastings bother them during this early softball season.

"All four games we had were against some of the top competition. We held our own and went toe to to toe with them," coach Jason Cochran said after the Bison dropped an 8-7 battle to Omaha Gross before fall- ing 15-6 against Omaha Skutt on Thursday.

"We could have easily won three or all four games with another timely hit or a timely out," he added.

The Bison (1-4 record overall) led Gross for 6 1/2 innings until a four-run seventh erased their 7-4 advantage.

McCook plated four first-inning runs, saw Gross force a 4-4 tie but then promptly regained its three-run advantage.

Junior Avery Doucet's three hits, two runs scored and two RBI paced McCook's attack.

Doucet and senior Emily Jacobs both drilled a double. Jacobs drove home another Bison run.

Junior Haiden Loop added two hits and swiped two bases as McCook's speedy leadoff batter.

Candace Coleman also continued her strong varsity contributions, reaching base three times on a single and two walks.

Brolin Morgan stepped into the action as a courtesy runner. She scored two runs.

Unfortunately, Gross countered with 11 hits to steal the victory.

McCook pitcher Shayne Coleman worked all 6 2/3 innings and walked just two.

A similar late surge followed into game two when Skutt scored eight runs during its last at-bat, breaking free from the tight 7-6 battle with those Bison.

The following are details provided through GameChanger.com:

Avery Doucet racked up three RBIs on two hits for McCook Bison Varsity. She doubled in the fourth inning and singled in the fifth inning.

Elise Warneke got the win for Skutt Catholic despite allowing five runs over four innings. Warneke struck out six, walked one and gave up five hits.

Doucet was the game's losing pitcher. She allowed 15 runs in seven innings, walked one and struck out three.

McCook Bison brought home three runs in the fourth inning, and matched that run total in the fifth. In the fourth, McCook Bison scored on an RBI double by Doucet, plating Morgan.

Skutt Catholic went up for good in the fifth, scoring five runs on a three-run home run by Emma Osowski and a two-run single by Kaylee Vampola.

Skutt Catholic added eight more runs in the top of the seventh. Sydni Miklas's single got things going, scoring Emma Spizzirri. That was followed up by Claire Harrison's single, bringing home Emma Osowski.

The Bison return to action at Saturday's Holdrege Invitational with first game set for 10:45.