Fernley softball beats Dayton

SOFTBALL

Fernley pitcher Heather Mathews tamed Dayton in the opening round of the 3A Northern Softball Tournament as the Vaqueros thumped the visitors 11-1 in five innings.

The game was called in the bottom of the fifth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule. During the season, the Lyon County rivals split their Northern 3A two-game series.

Both teams resume play today at 10 a.m. in the best of three series. A second game, if necessary, will be played at noon.

Fernley gave Mathews all the support she needed with a two-run first inning off Dayton hurler Sierra Barnwell.

Jayme King smacked a double to deep center to score the two runs, but she was tagged out at third base. Dayton sliced the lead in half in the third inning when a Fernley error allowed Barnwell to score.

The Vaqueros broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning by scoring six runs for an 8-1 lead. With the bases loaded, King singled in a run for her fourth RBI of the game, and Nikole Whitney and Samantha Rambeau each drove in two runs. Whitney also doubled in two more runs in the fourth inning for a 10-1 lead.

Paula Frying opened the fifth inning for Fernley on a bunt single and then advanced to second on an error. She eventually scored Fernley's 11th run.