The Pershing County softball team went 1-2 for the week. Tuesday, they traveled to Battle Mountain and lost 7-3 to the undefeated Longhorns.
The momentum shifted for the Mustangs over the weekend on their home field. They beat the Incline Highlanders on Saturday with scores of 12-11 and 17-6.
In Battle Mountain, Lovelock scored two runs in the first inning. They had a chance to score more but left runners on second and third base. It cost them. Battle Mountain came back and scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The game was 5-2 until the sixth inning. Lovelock added a run, bringing the score to 5-3 but Battle Mountain seized the win with two runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Taylor Garland pitched for Pershing all week. The freshman is winding up her first season of high school sports. She also competed in volleyball during what some call the Covid year of 2021.
“Our younger girls shined against Battle Mountain,” said Coach Jordan McKinney. “Anna Happy and Taylor Garland have stepped up this year.”
Happy is a freshman outfielder.
Freshmen Madyson Grenz, Yasmine McKinney and sophomore Lupita Lopez also had good weekends, she said.
Saturday, the Highlanders entered the matchup with a record of 2-3. In the first game of the doubleheader, Pershing jumped out with three runs. Their defense held the Longhorns at bay, until the third inning when Garland allowed two runs.
From there, the game was neck-to-neck, with neither side willing to concede. It looked like the match could run into overtime. Finally, in the seventh inning, Incline scored five runs. It was their biggest inning, but one run shy of what they needed to tie the score.
In the second game, the Mustangs came out with 11 runs in the first inning. They added three more in each of the next two. Meanwhile, the Mustangs squashed the Highlander’s offense. Incline scored three runs in the fourth inning, but it wasn’t enough to keep the game going.
“The last game showed what the Mustangs are capable of. They all hit the ball, were patient at the plate and played good defense,” said McKinney.
Kassandra Swindlehurst, a junior, had some quality at-bats, making a positive contribution toward the team goals.
“And of course, Bela Rosas and Aledda Sam showed what they’re made of both defensively and offensively,” said the coach.
This Friday, Pershing County hosts the West Wendover Wolverines (0-8) at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
It will be Pershing’s last home game of the year.
They’ll say farewell to their only senior – Senicka Happy. She plays outfield for the Mustangs. The coach says she also had a good weekend at bat.
