Pershing County's Aaliyah Allen attempts to throw out a Battle Mountain runner at second base.
#The Pershing County High School softball headed into spring break after losing all three Northern 2A games to Battle Mountain last week (12-0, 11-3, 22-4).
#In the series opener in Battle Mountain on Tuesday, April 15, Battle Mountain plated seven of its 12 runs in the opening frame and added four more in the second inning
#PCHS coach Jordan McKinney noted that Jerzie Jones pitched well and Katelynn Elerick had two dramatic hits.
#She added that the problem is getting a string of hits altogether. The Mustangs had just one other hit in the contest.
#Battle Mountain’s Aspen Swanger earned the win in the circle with nine strikeouts and a walk. Kiana Gonzales had three hits and two RBI for the Longhorns and Adison Matheus, Jazmin Johnson, Stevlana Martinez, Paitynn Johns and Alissa Heinz each had two hits.
#The Mustangs played the last two games of the series on their home field. They shined on defense in the opener but struggled to get their bats going in both games.
Battle Mountain's Addison Matheus attempts to tag a Pershing County runner at first base.
#Pershing County held a 2-1 advantage after three innings, when Battle Mountain pulled away with four runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth.
#The Longhorns added three runs in the seventh.
#Swanger collected the win once again, striking out 10 and walking three. She allowed six hits.
#Ella Moore and Gonzales had three hits apiece, Hallie Edgar added two hits and three RBI and Matheus, Eimilie Johnson each had two hits.
# McKinney saw good hitting from Jaymie George and Lauren Poffenroth. She also remarked on Arya Garland’s tenacity.
Pershing County's Arya Garland tags out Battle Mountain's Addison Matheus at third base.
#“We have to find our rhythm. We had a few bad innings defensively and had a hard time recovering,” she said.
#In the series finale, Battle Mountain led 8-2 after three innings, including a six-run second inning. The Longhorns tacked on 11 runs in the seventh.
#Swanger made it a clean sweep in the circle, allowing 12 hits. The junior struck out nine and walked one.
#Matheus, Kiara Gonzalez, Moore and Kiana Gonzales had three hits apiece. Jazmin Johnson added two hits, five RBI and two runs scored, while Tahlia Gonzalez scored four runs to go with two hits.
#The fight for second place in the Northern 2A is at stake this weekend in Battle Mountain, as the Longhorns host Yerington on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday in a doubleheader at 10 a.m.
#Yerington is 13-2 in league play and Battle Mountain is 12-2. Pershing County (8-10) sits in fourth and Incline (6-8) is fifth. The top four teams advance to the playoffs.
Battle Mountain's Aspen Swanger throws a pitch during the game on Tuesday, April 15, in Battle Mountain.
#On Thursday, April 29, Pershing County hosts Silver Stage for senior night at 4 p.m.
#Aaliyah Allen, the team’s only senior, will play the last home game of her high school years.
#The Mustangs and the Nighthawks are at the end of their regular seasons. Silver Stage is 1-14 overall and in the 2A Northern League.
#Great Basin assistant/sports editor contributed to this story.
