With a quick turnaround from the end of the fall sports season and a limited number of practices, the Battle Mountain High School softball team took to the field for the first time in its shortened six-week season this past Saturday on its home field.
The Lady Longhorns got off to a slow start but quickly gained their feet and swept a doubleheader from Incline 13-3 and 16-6. Both games ended in the fifth inning, due to the 10-run rule.
In the opening game, Battle Mountain had trouble getting its offense going, scoring just a single run through three innings of play. Incline scored twice in the first inning to lead 2-0 and held the advantage until the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Longhorns came alive with three runs to go in front for good at 4-2. The Highlanders came back with a single run in the top of the fifth to cut the deficit to 4-3 but that was as close as they got.
Battle Mountain struck for nine runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to ended the contest early.
In the nightcap, Incline struck first once again, with a pair of runs in the top of the first inning to go in front 2-0. That was the only lead for the Highlanders.
Battle Mountain bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the first and added five more runs in the next two innings to lead 8-4.
The Highlanders closed the gap to 8-6 in the fourth inning, only to see the Lady Longhorns rally for eight runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to complete the sweep and improve to 2-0.
Battle Mountain is back home on Friday to play West Wendover in a doubleheader at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The Lady Longhorns hit the road for the first time on Saturday with a non-conference doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
