Dayton softball gains important sweep

DAYTON SWEEPS

The Dayton High softball team also gained an important sweep, beating Yerington 12-0 in the opener and 5-3 in the nightcap. The Dust Devils (13-10) clinched at least the No. 3 seed for this weekend's Northern 3A playoffs and homefield advantage.

The top six teams will play best of three series with the three winners advancing to the NIAA State Championships.

"We knew going into today that we needed both victories to clinch the No. 3 spot," Dayton coach Dusti Houk said. "I was pleased with the way the girls hit."

Nicole Greer again was solid for Dayton, striking out 22 in the two wins. Along with a 5-0 win over Battle Mountain on Friday, Greer has struck out 35 in her last three games.

Greer pitched a two-hit shutout in the opener, striking out 13 and walking none. Greer allowed only three baserunners, settling down after hitting the first batter in the game.

Sara Simmons was 3-for-3 with a double, run and RBI, Jesse Ayres went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs, Keeli Garcia had two hits and a run, Greer was 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBI, Lauren Fisher had a hit, RBI and a run, Melony Cox was 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBI and a triple, Michelle Bowman doubled and scored a run and Kaitlen McKinnon had a hit, run and two RBI for Dayton.

Yerington jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first in the nightcap. But Greer shut down the Lions the rest of the way, pitching a five-hitter while striking out nine and walking one.

Dayton tied the game 3-3 in the second when Ayres and Fisher singled. Both scored on a double by Cox and Bowman tied the game with an RBI sacrifice fly.

The Dust Devils took a 4-3 lead in the third when Amanda Sbragia walked and scored on Fisher's double. Dayton got an insurance run in the seventh on Greer's RBI single. MicKinnon and Fisher each had two hits.