The Carson High softball team warmed up for a showdown with Sierra League frontrunner Reno High by sweeping at Elko on Tuesday.
Carson (14-8-1) won the opener 5-3 and the nightcap 4-0. The Senators received a much needed lift from freshman Christa Casci, who provided a much needed break for ace pitcher Mandy Carvin heading into a doubleheader on Friday in which Carson will host Reno.
Casci pitched 13 of the 14 innings on Tuesday and didn't allow an earned run on her way to recording her first varsity shutout in the nightcap.
"I'm real pleased with what she did from the circle," Carson coach Scott Vickrey said. "She's definitely getting better. We played good ball."
Carson also banged out 20 hits in the doubleheader. In the opener, Casci helped her own cause with a two-run single in the second inning. Robyn Conn went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Jessica Ashbaugh was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Casci went six innings with three Senator errors leading to all three Elko runs. She allowed five hits and walked just one. Carvin retired the side in order in the seventh, striking out two to pick up the save.
In the nightcap, Casci pitched a four-hitter, striking out three and walking one. Kaitlin Burroughs continued her hot hitting as she went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Dacey Hassey was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, Conn was 2-for-3 and Liz Rankl added a double.