Dougla softball still alive

Douglas softball still alive

By Joey Crandall

Nevada Appeal News Service

RENO - After suffering a 3-2 setback against McQueen to open the regional playoffs at Bishop Manogue Thursday, the Douglas softball team pounded out a 7-2 victory against Wooster to stay alive for another day.

Douglas will take on the winner of Damonte Ranch and Reno Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Manogue High School.

McQueen snuck away with the win in the opener after Devin Higgins dribbled a ball up the middle for a fielder's choice, allowing Haley Gadsby to score from second and breaking a 2-2 tie.

Lancer pitcher Mikala Huebner was throwing a perfect game into the fifth but Douglas' Katrina Morgan belted a home run to tie the score at one.

McQueen got back out in front on a two-out RBI single in the sixth, but Douglas tied it up after a triple from Mia Townsell, and an RBI single from Mackenzie Cauley in the bottom half.

Douglas had the opportunity to break the game open as Lauren Hoppe drew a no-out walk to load the bases, but Huebner induced three consecutive ground balls in the infield to end the threat.

"We made some adjustments," Douglas coach Andy Mitchell said. "We were chasing a lot of balls up and out early one. We shortened up our swings and we started putting the ball in play."

After McQueen scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh, Douglas again had the chance to tie the game up after Townsell singled to left with two outs.

"Mia has been going a great job," Mitchell said. "She didn't try to do too much. She just kept her hands up and popped the ball a couple times."

Huebner again got out of the threat, though, recording a strikeout to end the game.

Douglas wasted little time getting ahead on Wooster as Cauley belted a two-run home run to right in the first inning and Morgan hit her second home run of the day with a two-run shot in the second.

The rest of Douglas' scoring came from a two-run double by Lauren Hoppe in the second and Blomstrom coming around to score when Townsell reached on an error.

Stephanie Harper struck out eight and walked none, allowing just four hits to pick up the win.