Last weekend, Carson High used a four-run first inning to easily defeat Damonte Ranch in the series opener.
On Tuesday, the Mustangs returned the favor.
Patrick Wolfe scattered six hits in six innings and hit a three-run homer in the first to lead Damonte to a 5-2 win over the Senators. The loss snapped a four-game Carson win streak.
The loss dropped Carson to 7-3 heading into games today and Thursday against Reno. The series starts today in Reno at 3:45. The Reno series was moved up at the request of Reno coach Pete Savage, whose team is leaving the area on Friday for an Easter tournament.
"We came out flat today," said Carson coach Cody Farnworth, whose team outhit Damonte 7-5 but couldn't overcome a four-run first inning. "Charlie (Banfield) came out flat today.
"We have to do a better job of hitting with runners in scoring position. We can't do that (go 0-for-10) and expect to win a game, My hats off to Wolfe, he did a good job."
The Damonte left-hander used a nice breaking ball throughout the game to keep Carson hitters off balance. He struck out eight and walked just one before turning the ball over to Kyle Richards to start the seventh.
"That (curveball) is pretty much my strong point," Wolfe said. "I want to stay on the outside corner (to right-handers). I study hitters when I'm not pitching, and I adjust to what they are doing after the first at-bat."
"Patrick threw an unbelievable game today," Damonte coach Jon Polson said. "He has done that all year. Anytime you can beat Carson ... they're a strong team. It's a nice way to go into Easter break and our bye week."
Carson scored an unearned run in the first when Brock Pradere reached on an error, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a sharp one-out single to right by Nick Domitrovich.
The Mustangs got that run back and more against starter/loser Charlie Banfield, who came out with not much movement on hi fastball, and he paid the price for it.
Matt Gover singled to right and Banfield plunked Justin Bridgman with a pitch. Nate Nolan followed with a shot past third baseman Gehrig Tucker. Gover scored and Bridgman motored around to third.
Banfield got the next two outs, but Wolfe powered a waist-high pitch over the fence in right-centerfield for a 4-1 lead.
Banfield sett led down after that, allowing a run on two hits over the final five innings. The only Damonte run in that span was a leadoff homer in the third by Nolan.
"Charlie pitched well after that first inning," Farnworth said.
The third inning was a frustrating one for the Senators. Tucker, Pradere and Domitrovich had bunt singles to load the bases with no outs. Damonte probably should have had outs on two of the well-placed balls, but a missed a tag and failure to get over and cover a base proved costly.
Luke Maher, the hero of Saturday's game with four RBI, popped up for the first out. Rory Petersen struck out and Casey Wolfe rolled out to first to end the threat.
"We did a great job playing small ball and then a pop-up, strikeout and groundball and they are out of the inning," Farnworth said. "We have to do a better job."
Carson scored its second run in the fifth on a walk, two balks and an infield out.
Carson stranded two runners in scoring position in the seventh against Richards, who retired Domitrovich on a fly ball to left to end the game.