After dropping two of three games to West Wendover before spring break, the Battle Mountain High School softball team bounced back in a big way this past weekend at Silver Stage.
The Lady Longhorns (7-5 Division III North, 12-7-1 overall) swept three games from the Nighthawks to all but secure a playoff berth for the regional tournament next month in Lovelock.
Battle Mountain, who is currently fourth in the league standings, defeated Silver Stage 13-3 and 13-3 on Friday and 18-4 on Saturday.
In game one of the series, Jade Harkness allowed just four hits from the circle, in the complete-game win. All three runs she allowed were unearned and the senior struck out eight and walked two.
Battle Mountain built a 3-0 advantage after an inning of play and never looked back. The Lady Longhorns added a single run in the second and two more in the third, before breaking the game open with seven runs in the fourth inning. Silver Stage scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it was not enough to extend the game past the 10-run rule.
Kylie Sondermann and Ashley Haney each had two hits in the win. Sondermann scored twice and added two RBI. Megan Salazar had one hit and drove in two runs. Riane Schroeder scored three times and had one hit and one RBI.
The second game on Friday was 13-3 as well, with Battle Mountain scoring 10 times in the second inning. The Lady Longhorns added single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Silver Stage had just one hit in the contest, but took advantage of three errors by Battle Mountain to score three times, including twice in the fourth inning.
McKenna Jones picked up the win in four innings of work. The sophomore allowed three runs (one earned) on one hit. She walked eight and struck out four. Harkness came in and threw a perfect fifth inning.
Kali Kester, Itzela Martinez and Haney each had two hits and the trio combined for five runs scored and four RBI. Kendall Berumen, Marissa Rogers, Harkness, Sondermann and Schroeder each had one hit. Schroeder and Berumen each had two RBI.
In the series finale, Battle Mountain used another 10-run inning, this time in the third, to put the contest away early. The Lady Longhorns added five runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth. The Nighthawks scored all four of their runs in the fifth inning.
Harkness earned the win, allowing four runs (zero earned) on four hits. She struck out five and walked none.
Martinez and Sondermann had three hits apiece and Sondermann added four RBI. Martinez, Sondermann and Schroeder each scored three runs.
Battle Mountain faces Pershing County this weekend, starting Wednesday in Lovelock at 4 p.m. The two rivals move to Battle Mountain on Saturday for an 11 a.m. doubleheader.
The Lady Mustangs lead the Division III North at 12-0. However, the Lady Longhorns beat Pershing County twice during a preseason tournament in Lovelock.