When the chips were down on Saturday afternoon, there was no doubt who the Fernley High School baseball team wanted on the mound.
Matt Lambeth was the man, and the all-state senior came through with a save and complete game victory as the Vaqueros swept an important Northern 3A doubleheader at home against Spring Creek. Lambeth came on in relief and pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the seventh inning to close the door on a 12-10 win in the opener and then he pitched nine-hit ball as Fernley won game two 8-6.
By winning, Fernley improved its division record 7-4 and moved past Spring Creek in the race for third-place.
Needless to say, both games were critical. Coach Cory Sanburg knew that when he went to the mound with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the seventh and the Vaqueros protecting a 12-8 lead. He brought Lambeth in to pitch in relief of Brian Reeder.
"Spring Creek was one-half game ahead of us (in the standings), so we didn't want to look ahead to the second game. We wanted to get that first one," Sanburg said. "It was a tough spot, but I figured he was the man to close for us."
Lambeth walked one run in, then got a strikeout. Another run scored on a infield ground ball for the second out. Then Lambeth got a strikeout to end the game.
Adam Schwab, Fernley's leadoff hitter, went 4-for-5 and scored four runs to lead the Vaqueros offensively. And No. 9 hitter Derek Henry went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, and he drove in one run when he was hit by a pitch in Fernley's three-run sixth inning.
Lambeth also hit 3-for-5 with three RBIs, Reeder was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Tony Selden 2-for-4 with one RBI.
In game two, Tim Hines delivered a two-run double as the Vaqueros scored four runs in the first inning to take a lead they never relinquished.
Reeder hit 3-for-4, Lambeth 2-for-3 and Hines 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Lambeth allowed nine hits, walked two and struck out four to earn the victory.
The Vaqueros travel to Sparks on Tuesday for a non-league game against Reed and then they host Galena on Wednesday.
JUNIOR VARSITY
Reno scored once in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a tie and defeat Douglas 9-8 in the first game of a Sierra League doubleheader on Saturday. Reno won the second game 8-4 to complete a sweep.
Brian Miller hit 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs for Douglas in the opener. Kyle Luken was also 2-for-3, Chad Walling 1-for-2 with a double and Chris Honer doubled home run one run in the top of the seventh inning when the Tigers scored twice to tie the score 8-8.
Jim Pierce hit 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBIs, including a fielder's choice to bring a run home in the seventh. Pierce drove in one run with a suicide squeeze bunt in the fourth inning. Brandon Huff and Spike Agosta also had triples in the game for the Tigers.
In game two, Pierce hit 2-for-3 and Patrick Hughes doubled two runs home for Douglas. Agosta and Miller added one hit each.
The Tigers, 6-7 overall for the season, play McQueen Tuesday afternoon in Reno.