Lindsey Ashbaugh made her offensive game a big priority entering her final season at Carson High, and it's paid big dividends.
Ashbaugh, hitting .347 entering the game, drove in three runs with a single and double to lead Carson to an 8-3 win over McQueen Friday afternoon.
Carson is battling Damonte for fourth place in the Northern 4A standings, and if the standings stay current at the end of the regular season, Carson would face Damonte Ranch in the first round.
The Senators have won three straight, building some nice momentum heading into the final week of the regular season. Carson will play five games next week - at Galena on Tuesday, home Wednesday and Thursday against Damonte Ranch and Fallon, at Wooster on Friday and home to Douglas on Saturday. And, if the Senators are to make a charge and overtake any teams down the stretch it will need some more clutch hitting from Ashbaugh.
"I've been constantly working with Craig (Kiser, assistant coach) and even on my own," Ashbaugh said. "I'm trying to perfect my mechanics at the plate to make my hitting work."
It was Ashbaugh who gave the Senators an early lead in the first after McQueen scored one on a sacrifice fly by Hannah Lowe. Shortstop Emily Collins threw a McQueen runner out at the plate to keep the damage minimal.
In the bottom of the first, Collins walked and reached third when Jen Purcell's line drive was dropped for a two-base error. Christa McGahuey walked to load the bases, and Danielle Morrow popped up for the first out.
Ashbaugh followed with a hard shot off the leg of pitcher Alena Wilson to score Collins and Purcell. Skylar Jones, a courtesy runner for McGahuey was picked off third, and Ashbaugh was also gunned down trying to get to third during the rundown.
Carson made it 3-1 in the third when McGahuey doubled, moved to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch.
McGahuey, who worked the first five innings, was touched for a run in the fourth when Danielle Stewart walked and then stole second and third before scoring on Wilson's bloop single to right which made it 3-2.
Carson tacked on another run in the fourth when Kandis Tuttle walked, stole second, moved to third on Jones' infield out and scored on a passed ball to make it 4-2.
McQueen made it 4-3 in the fifth on singles by J.J. McFall and Katharine Moore, a double by Stewart and a sacrifice fly by Lowe.
That was the last of McQueen's offense. Ashbaugh came in and retired six of the last seven batters she faced.
"I'm used to it (relieving); coming in and finishing games," Ashbaugh said. Carson coach Scott Vickrey and Kiser discussed bringing Ashbaugh in during the fifth inning.
"It's the first time we've had somebody go back-to-back days in league," Vickrey. "We wanted to get a feel for how Christa would do. In zone, we're going to need people to work back-to-back days.
"It's always a gamble when you make a pitching change. I thought it was time. We put Lindsey in, and she did a good job of changing speeds. She also works at a different pace. She gives them a different look."
The Senators wrapped up the game with one in the fifth on Ashbaugh's double, and then added three in the sixth on a run-scoring single by McGahuey, an infield out by Morrow and a passed ball.