Fallon stumbles in Calif. Victory Tournament

The Lady Wave softball team began the new season on the right foot, beating a Nevada school in the Victory Tournament in Elk Grove, Calif.

The rest of the weekend, though, didn’t go as well as Fallon lost four-straight games to California schools. Fallon began league play on Tuesday at Fernley, the defending Division I-A state champs.

Results were not available at press time.

In Fallon’s lone win in the Golden State, Bill Archer’s squad knocked off Division I foe McQueen, 6-2.

Rileigh Ricken went the distance, striking out five in seven innings and yielding one earned run.

Ali Tedford, Kayla Buckmaster and Ricken each collected two hits to lead Fallon in the four-run win on Thursday. Buckmaster doubled twice, including an RBI, while Megan McCormick singled in a run. Paige Thorn and Ashlie Alvarez each singled.

Fallon lost to St. Francis (Sacramento), 8-1, on Thursday before losing a close battle to Rodriguez (Fairfield), 3-1, on Friday. Fallon also fell to Woodcreek (Roseville), 8-6, and Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills), 5-1, on Saturday to close out the tournament.

Tedford led Fallon against St. Francis as she recorded the only multi-hit game with two. Izzy Thomas and Ricken each singled with Ricken scoring the team’s only run.

Buckmaster took the loss, allowing four earned runs in 4 2/3 innings and striking out two with no walks.

Fallon built an early lead against Rodriguez, scoring its only run in the first inning before the Mustangs tied it in the fourth and then scored twice in the fifth to win.

McCormick, Thorn, Alvarez, Thomas and Ricken each singled with Thomas scoring in the first inning. McCormick recorded two stolen bases while Thomas had one.

Ricken started the game, going four innings with three strikeouts and allowing one run before giving way to Miranda Ford. Ford, though, yielded two earned runs in two innings to take the loss.

After Fallon spotted Woodcreek a 6-0 lead in the first inning, Thorn’s three-run homer in the fifth inning, though, ignited a comeback. Ricken scored an RBI triple and McCormick singled in a run after Fallon trailed by seven heading into the fifth inning.

Fallon’s momentum carried into the finale against Oak Ridge but it was short lived.

The Lady Wave scored the game’s first run but Oak Ridge came back to tie it in the first inning before scoring three in the third and one more in the fifth.

Thorn singled in McCormick, who walked, in the first inning while Tedford doubled for Fallon’s second and final hit of the game.

Buckmaster, Ricken and Ford each pitched in the loss with Buckmaster going three innings and Ricken throwing 2 2/3. Ricken yielded one earned run and struck out three while Buckmaster allowed four earned runs.

After the league opener against Fernley, Fallon will play its home opener at 3 p.m. on Friday against Truckee to open a three-game series. A doubleheader at 11 a.m. is slated for Saturday.