RENO — Chase Blueberg hit a grand slam and drove in six runs to lead Carson High to a 15-7 Nothern Division I baseball win over McQueen on Thursday afternoon.
The win gave Carson a sweep of the two-game series and some much-needed momentum heading into Saturday’s doubleheader against perennial powerhouse Reno. The first pitch at Ron McNutt Field is set for 11 a.m.
Blueberg, who started on the mound, opened the bottom of the first by allowing back-to-back homers by Cameron Thomas and Sam Higley.
Carson roared back with seven runs in the bottom of the inning.
With one out, Brandon Allen and Dustin Dutcher walked. After Connor Leahy moved both runners along with a bunt, Josiah Pongasi’s groundball was misplayed, allowing Allen to score and Dutcher to reach third. Pongasi also reached second. Dom Norton followed with a run-scoring infield single, scoring Dutcher and Pongasi, the latter scoring when the shortstop threw the ball away. After Gehrig Tucker walked, TJ Thomsen reached on an error to load the bases. Blueberg followed with his slam, his third homer in four games.
A bases-loaded walk gave McQueen a run in the second to make it 7-3. The Lancers added two in the fourth to make it 7-5. That was as close as the Lancers would get, as the Senators scored four in both the sixth and seventh to win easily.
A walk, an error and doubles by Tucker, Blueberg and Allen accounted for the runs to make it 11-5. A single by Norton, a double by Tucker, a single by Thomsen and a sacrifice fly by Zampirro completed the scoring.
Blueberg, Tucker and Norton all had two hits, while Thomsen, Allen, Zampirro and Thomsen added one each.
Blueberg got the win for Carson despite allowing five runs over five innings. He struck out two, walked four and surrendered seven hits. John Holton finished up.
SOFTBALL
Purcell dominates Lancers
RENO — Jennifer Purcell pitched a three-hitter and fanned 10, and Michelle Perry highlighted a four-run first with a two-run double to lead Carson to a 5-1 win Thursday.
Carson improved to 10-12-1 overall and 7-7 in league play. The Senators host Reno in a Saturday doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
Purcell gave up a run in the first. The run scored on a passed ball. Between the second and sixth, Purcell retired 13 of 14 hitters. She had three 1-2-3 innings.
Carson started its rally in the first after two outs.
Purcell singled and moved to third on walks to Aubrey Northrup and Becka Breuer. Perry followed with a two-run double, scoring Purcell and Northrup. Malia Tiffer followed with a run-scorng single.
Carson scored again in the seventh when Bailey Allen stroked a triple and scored on Purcell’s single. The three-bagger was Allen’s second in as many games.
Purcell went 3-for-4, Perry 2-for-3, Allen 2-for-4 and Tiffer 1-for-3.