Cloud County sweeps Southeast

BEATRICE, Neb. — The Cloud County Community College softball team extended its winning streak to four straight games by sweeping a doubleheader from Southeast Community College on Tuesday.
Cloud County notched a pair of wins over the Bethany College junior varsity on Monday and then downed Southeast 5-4 and 4-1 to improve to 5-15 on the season.
“They're starting to believe in themselves,” Cloud County coach Aaron Acree said, “You can see the confidence continuing to grow.”
The Thunderbirds trailed Southeast 1-0 heading into the top of the second inning in game one.
Jacie Marcotte singled with one out. She scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 1-1.
Southeast responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to reclaim the lead at 3-1.
Cloud County tied the game with two runs in the top of the fourth inning.
Mattison Hogrefe singled with one out, and Sarah McCown launched a two-run home run.
A run in the bottom of the fourth put the Storm back on top 4-3.
Payton Gillen led off the top of the sixth inning with a double.
A double by Hogrefe drove in Gillen with the tying run.
McCown singled to get Hogrefe home, and the T-Birds led 5-4.
Southeast loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Hogrefe was able to induce a pop up on the infield to end the game.
McCown had two hits in three at bats and drove in three runs for Cloud County.
Hogrefe was 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
Marcotte had two hits in three at bats.
Hogrefe tossed a complete game in picking up the win in the second game of the twinbill. She gave up one run on four throws and struck out four.
'”She was throwing that change-up for a strike and was able to move the ball inside and out all day,” Agree said, “She was able to get her fastball on hitters' hands so they couldn't control it or get the barrel of the bat to it. And what I really liked is she only needed 74 pitches. She was getting weak contact and worked efficiently.”
Southeast scored its only run off Hogrefe in the first inning.
Cloud County tied the game at 1-1 when Emily Wells led off the top of the third inning with a solo home run.
“Emily's home run was huge for us,” Acree said, “Southeast had gotten out to another early lead, but after she hit that ,it was a brand new ballgame again, and the girls settled down and adjusted.”
A run in the top of the fourth inning put the T-Birds on top to stay, 2-1.
Kara Chisolm walked to lead off the inning. She scored on an error.
Hogrefe homered with Gillen aboard in the sixth inning to give Cloud County the 4-1 cushion.
McCown, Gillen, Wells and Hogrefe had two hits each.
The T-Birds continue an eight-game road trip this week with a doubleheader against Central (Neb.) Community College-Columbus.