Knights Softball drop a pair to Dodge City

The North Platte Community College Knights Softball Team dropped two games to the Dodge City Community College Conquistadors Monday in Dodge City, Kan.

The Knights had a tough time generating runs in the first game of the doubleheader, falling 7-0.

Nevaeh Ramirez, of Thornton, Colo., went six innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits and struck out four in game one.

In the second game of the afternoon, the Knights fired up the offense, but Dodge City added seven runs in the fourth inning to overcome the deficit and take the victory away from the Knights, 10-3.

Pitcher Kyleigh Sullivan, of Fort Worth, Texas, lasted six innings, allowing eight hits and 10 runs while striking out five.

Zoey Bredleau-Beehler, of Portland, Ore., Jordan Young, of Johnstown, Colo., and Ashlyn Wheeling, of Thornton, Colo., each collected one hit in the second game for the Knights.

"The start of the season is always the hardest for softball as we have to practice indoors for two months and then move right into games without being able to practice on a field. It's the challenge of being an outdoor sport in the Midwest," said Janelle Higgins, NPCC Knights head softball coach. "We are getting better, but we just need more time outside getting ground balls and fly balls so we can work out the kinks. It's not about how we start. It's about how we finish the year. We are young and without getting to have a full season last year, we just need to remember to walk before we sprint, but we are on a sprinters course."

The Knights' home games against Iowa Western Community College, Northeast Community College and Western Nebraska Community College scheduled for this weekend have been cancelled.

The Knights fall to 1-5 on the season and will travel to Council Bluffs, Iowa to take on Iowa Western Community College on March 5.