The Battle Mountain High School softball team was able to pull out a victory in the series finale this past weekend against West Wendover to hold on to the fourth and final playoff berth in the Division III North.
The Wolverines pulled away late in Friday’s single contest to win 10-5 and came back to win 7-0 in Saturday’s first game. Battle Mountain salvaged the series with a 4-1 win in the night cap on Saturday. The Lady Longhorns sit at 4-5 in league play.
Wolverines knock
off Longhorns
West Wendover jumped on the board first on Friday with a single run in the opening inning. Battle Mountain answered back in the bottom of the second inning with three runs to go in front. It was the only time Battle Mountain led on the night.
The Wolverines countered with three runs in the top of the third inning to go in front 4-3. The Lady Longhorns tied the contest in the bottom of the fourth inning.
West Wendover took advantage of a couple errors by the Battle Mountain defense and six walks in the late going. West Wendover scored three runs apiece in the sixth and seventh innings. The Lady Longhorns mounted rallies in the final two innings but could not complete the comeback.
Sophomore Marissa Rogers was the hitting star on the night, as she went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI. Kali Kester, Jonni Davis and Kylie Sondermann each had two hits and Sruti Bhakta had one hit.
McKenna Jones started and took the loss for Battle Mountain. She threw 2.1 innings and gave up four runs (three earned) on three hits. She struck out three and walked four. Sondermann pitched the final 4.1 innings and gave six runs, but only one was earned. She struck out two and walked two.
Wendover blanks BMHS
Battle Mountain found it tough sledding in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader. The Lady Longhorns managed just four hits — half of those by Sondermann. Both of her hits were for extra bases. Freshmen Isabella DeAllah and Bhakta had the other hits.
West Wendover scored four times in the first inning and never looked back. The Wolverines added a single run in the fifth and two more in the seventh to put the contest out of reach.
Jones suffered the loss for the second game in a row. The junior allowed four runs (one earned) while giving up just two hits. Sondermann finished the game with two strikeouts while allowing three unearned runs.
BMHS prevents sweep
Battle Mountain played its best game of the series and was able to prevent the sweep. The Lady Longhorns jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning and never trailed. Battle Mountain added single runs in the third and sixth innings.
Kester and Jones combined for four of Battle Mountain’s six hits. The duo also each had a RBI. Sondermann and Rogers had one hit apiece.
Sondermann earned the win in the complete-game effort. She allowed one run on five hits. She struck out four and walked four.
Pershing County leads the Division III North at 9-0. Yerington (5-1) is second and West Wendover (4-3) is third.
Battle Mountain is scheduled to host Silver Stage on Wednesday, April 20, at 4 p.m. The two teams will be back in Battle Mountain on Saturday, April 23 for a doubleheader at 11 a.m.
