FALLON - In what amounted to a glorified scrimmage, the Carson softball team hooked up with a familiar foe on Wednesday.
The Senators nipped Fallon, 5-2, at the Edward Arciniega Complex in what Carson coach Scott Vickery and Fallon coach Phil Pinder looked at as a game to prepare for their respective postseasons.
Both Carson (10-3 Northern 4A, 18-8-1 overall) and Fallon (11-1 3A Lahontan League, 21-9 overall) have qualified for the playoffs in their respective classifications, with Fallon winning the Lahontan League and Carson is just behind first-place Damonte Ranch in the Northern 4A. Carson plays a doubleheader against Damonte Ranch on Saturday.
"The girls were playing pretty good ball," Vickery said. "We were working our short game, you saw us go to the bunt early."
Fallon, which moved to the 3A in the fall, fell behind 1-0 in the first inning when Carson's Emily Collins scored on an error. The Senators added a pair of runs, highlighted by a solo home run from Moriah Lane in the second to extend the lead.
Collins led off with a double to center and moved to third on a groundout by Kristin Withrow. Collins scored on an RBI groundout by Jennifer Purcell. Lane stepped into the box and crushed a Jill Pinder fastball through the wind and over the centerfield wall for a 3-0 lead.
"We've been hitting the ball well throughout the lineup, so it was nice to see that continue," Vickery said.
The Senators tacked on two more runs in the sixth when Purcell scored on a squeeze from Lisa Yamamoto, and Lane came home after Fallon catcher Chelesa Smitten threw the ball into centerfield. Ellise McGowan faked as if she was stealing second, and Smitten threw down but no one was covering second base.
However, Fallon fought back in the final two frames. The Lady Wave had the tying run on base or at the plate each inning, but Carson pitcher Lindsey Ashbaugh was able to hold off Fallon.
"I thought the difference was we gave up a couple runs we usually stop and a couple extra bases," Phil Pinder said. "You can't do that against this caliber team. It was nice, though, because it was a playoff-type practice situation."
Cassie Bell, who reached on an error, cut the Senators lead to 5-1 after scoring on an RBI single by Danielle Rothery in the bottom of the sixth. Fallon had the bases loaded with two outs, but Ashbaugh forced Shelby Lawry to hit a weak comebacker to end the inning.
Ashbaugh was solid in the circle, pitching seven innings with five strikeouts and didn't allow an earned run on seven hits to earn the win. Her counterpart, Pinder, was solid, throwing seven innings allowing three earned runs on six hits and struck out three.
In the seventh, Bell reached on an infield single and scored on an RBI single by Jenny Rechel. Fallon had runners on first and third with two outs, but Smitten lined out to right field to end the game.
"Fallon's a good squad and they'll do well," Vickery said.
JV SOFTBALL
CARSON TOPS FALLON
Maddy Von Duering picked up the victory, allowing only five hits over six innings.
Carson had 20 hits and was led by Aubrey Northrup, who was 4-4 with a double. Kandis Tuttle, Skylar Jones, Becka Breuer, Sydney Knorzer, Sara Brewer, Malia Tiffer and Von Duering all had two hits.
GOLF
CHS GOLFERS THIRD
RENO - Carson High's golf team placed third at the final Sierra League golf tournament of the season Tuesday at Thunder Canyon Country Club.
Galena and Manogue tied for first with 401s. Carson was next with a 44, six shots ahead of Douglas. Damonte was fifth with 492.
Garrett Gingell led Carson with an 84, followed by Roman Smokey with an 85 and Mitch Parra had an 87. Ben Drozdoff shot 100 and Sam Bruketta had 102.
Manogue's Nick Greco was medalist with a 77.