The Battle Mountain High School softball team all but clinched a spot in the Northern 2A Regional Championships with a come-from-behind win against rival Pershing County on Saturday in Battle Mountain.
The three-game series tarted last week on Tuesday, April 26, in Lovelock with Pershing County holding on for a 7-6 win.
The series moved to Battle Mountain this past Saturday, with the Mustangs winning game one 13-2.
The Lady Longhorns trailed 11-10 in the series finale but score a pair of runs to secure a 12-11 win. The Lady Longhorns are 16-7 overall and 10-5 in the Northern 2A.
Pershing County 7, Battle Mountain 6
In the series opener in Lovelock, Battle Mountain jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Pershing County cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning and took the lead for good with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Battle Mountain trimmed the Pershing County advantage to 5-3 in the top of the sixth inning, only to see the Mustangs score two important insurance runs to go back in front 7-3.
Those runs proved to be crucial, as Battle Mountain rallied for three runs in the seventh inning, but came up a run short.
Marena Fuller had two of Battle Mountain’s four hits and Hailee Andersen and Shea Jones each had one hit.
Jones threw a complete game in the circle but suffered the loss. The junior allowed seven runs (three earned) on four hits. She struck out five and walked one.
Pershing County 13, Battle Mountain 2
The series moved back to Battle Mountain this past Saturday and Pershing County dominated the opener of the doubleheader in a game that was shortened by the 10-run mercy rule.
The Mustangs jumped on the scoreboard early and never looked back. Andersen and Jones each had doubles for the Lady Longhorns and Fuller also had a hit and RBI.
Jones took the loss in the circle, allowing 13 runs (six earned) on five hits. She struck out four and walked four.
Battle Mountain 12, Pershing County 11
The series finale was a back-and-forth affair with each team trading the lead throughout. The Lady Longhorns had the early momentum with a pair of three-run innings within in the first three innings.
The Mustangs rallied late and retook the lead and seemed poised sweep the series.
However, with Battle Mountain down to its last out and trailing by a run, Pershing County dropped a fly ball that went of the centerfielder’s glove and to the ground, allowing the Lady Longhorns to the game.
On the next at bat, Battle Mountain won the game with a single to left field.
In her final home game, Fuller went 4-for-5 with four RBI.
Heidy Amezcua, Kiana Gonzalez and Jones each had two hits. Lauryn Avey had one hit. Jones and Gonzalez each had two RBI.
Lilliana Haney picked up the win, as the junior allowed 11 runs (four earned) on four hits. She struck out three and walked four.
Battle Mountain travels to West Wendover on Thursday for a single game at 4 p.m. and a doubleheader on Friday at 10 a.m.
The Northern 2A Regional Championships take place May 13-14 in West Wendover.
Yerington (14-0) and Pershing County (14-4) have clinched playoff spots. Battle Mountain (10-5) is third and West Wendover (8-7) is fourth.
