Battle Mountain's Anthony Silva throws out a Pershing County runner during a game on April 25 in Battle Mountain
Photo by Tony Erquiaga.
The Pershing County baseball team sandwiched a win between two losses this past week. Tuesday, they lost to Battle Mountain on the road 10-1.
On Saturday, the Mustangs hosted the Longhorns for the last two games of the series. The Mustangs won the opener 3-2 but lost the nightcap 11-7.
The Mustangs now stand at 12-12 overall, and 9-8 in the 2A. They're fourth in the league, behind West Wendover (14-1), Yerington (13-2) and Battle Mountain (11-4). More importantly, they've clinched the fourth seed in the regional tournament to be held May 12-13 in Lovelock
"It's exciting for our kids as our seniors have never been to a zone tournament and this is big for our program as a whole," coach Jared Jensen said. To add to the excitement, they'll compete in front of their home crowd.
In the first game of the series, the Longhorns outhit the Mustangs 8-2. Ayden Montes and Taylor Montes each collected a hit for Lovelock. Wyatt Diaz went five innings on the mound, allowing six runs on six hits and striking out eight.
Battle Mountain's Sage Holte slides into second base during a game on April 25 in Battle Mountain
Battle Mountain took a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Sage Holte led off with a walk and scored after two wild pitches.
Pershing County tied the game in the top of the fourth inning on the strength of singles by Trenton Rhodes and Noel Zaldivar. That proved to be all the offense for the Mustangs.
Pershing County's Trenton Rhodes slides into third base during a game on April 25 in Battle Mountain
Battle Mountain answered back with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and never trailed. The Longhorns used three straight doubles from Eric Fernandez, Asher Bundrock and Colton Mills to lead 3-2.
The Longhorns added three runs in the bottom off the fifth inning, with two of those coming off a two- run home run from Jr. Vazquez that scored Wiatt Kelly. Fernandez added a three-RBI double in the sixth inning, as Battle Mountain scored four runs in the frame.
Mills paced Battle Mountain with three hits and Fernandez added two. Vazquez and Fernandez each drove in three runs.
Jake Perrone earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out nine and walked four.
On Saturday at PCHS, Trenton Rhodes tripled home Wyatt Diaz in the first inning of the opener. Battle Mountain came back in the top of the second inning to tie game on an RBI-double by Fernandez that scored Vazquez.
In the third inning, Blake Burrows doubled in a one-one count, scoring two more to give Pershing County a 3-1 advantage. Battle Mountain cut the deficit to 3-2 in the seventh on a solo home run by Perrone but the rally ended there. Perrone had two of the Longhorns’ three hits.
"We saw a big improvement in our bats between Tuesday and Saturday," said Jensen.
As pitcher, Burrows surrendered one run on three hits over five innings, striking out six. Wyatt Diaz closed out the game.
Pershing County senior Blake Burrows pitches against Battle Mountain, at Saturday's doubleheader, hosted by Lovelock.
Anthony Silva started for Battle Mountain and received a no-decision in three innings of action. He allowed one run on one hit and struck out four. Angel Guadarrama suffered the loss in relief, as he threw three innings. He allowed two runs on three hits. He struck out eight and walked two.
Battle Mountain jumped out early to a 2-0 lead in the nightcap. They doubled on a 1-2 count in the first inning, scoring one run. The Mustangs tied up the score at two in the bottom of the second inning when Tyler Miller grounded out, scoring one run.
The Longhorns pulled away in the fourth inning with four runs, which included a double by Vazquez and a single from Holte. Battle Mountain followed up with four more runs in the sixth inning off a pair of doubles from Bundrock and Matt Moore.
Rhodes surrendered seven runs on six hits over five innings, striking out nine.
Vazquez earned the win for Battle Mountain in 5.1 innings of work, He gave up five runs (two earned) on five hits, He struck out eight and walked three. Perrone closed out the final 1.1 innings.
Battle Mountain pounded out 13 hits, including three each from Holte and Mills. Perrone added two hits.
Pershing County played its last home game of the season on Wednesday, May 3. Results were not available at press time. Traditionally, Pershing County uses the occasion to honor its senior players. This year's seniors are Wyatt Diaz, Blake Burrows and Noel Zaldivar.
Pershing County travels to Oasis Academy on Friday.
Battle Mountain closes out the regular season at home against West Wendover, with a single game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday.
The Northern 2A Regional Championship takes place over Mother’s Day weekend, May 12-13 in Lovelock at Pershing County High School. The NIAA 2A State Championships take place May 18-20 in Reno.
Great Basin assistant editor/sports editor Tony Erquiaga contributed to this story.