Fernley's Haliee Edgar takes a ball before blasting a grand slam in the first inning of the Vaqueros 10-6 win over Fallon on Tuesday.
With the wind raging, the Fallon softball team fell victim to Fernley’s long ball on Tuesday at the Edward Arciniega Complex.
The Vaqueros blasted their way past their Northern Division I-A rivals 10-6 using three home runs to capture the win.
Hailee Edgar, Caitlin Kindred and slugger Serena Olson all homered for Fernley as the Vaqueros tied the season series at 1. The rivals cap their series on Tuesday.
“I think we came out a little flat,” Fallon coach Bill Archer said. “Especially playing that squad (Fernley), you got to get up for these games. I think they had some timely hitting.”
Fallon (10-1 league, 11-5 overall) visits Lowry (11-1, 14-2) today and Saturday for a three-game series, while Fernley hosts South Tahoe (3-10, 3-10) after a 15-4 win against Sparks on Wednesday.
Fallon raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a two-run single by Hannah Frank.
Ali Tedford opened the frame with a double to center field followed by a walk from Megan McCormick and a RBI single from Paige Thorn.
Frank then smoked a lined shot to score McCormick and Thorn.
Fernley, however, responded with four runs in the second inning off the bat of Edgar.
“We had some good, timely long hits,” Fernley coach Diane Chapin said. “The kids have still not given up with two outs. Those are big things.”
With two outs, Mackenzie Peak singled, Kailey Daggitt reached on an error and Olson walked. On a 3-2 count, Edgar blasted a grand slam to center to give the Vaqueros a 4-3 lead.
Kindred pushed the lead to 5-3 in the third inning with a solo shot, while Courtney Dunn added a two-run double in the fourth with two outs.
Fallon countered in the bottom half of the frame on a solo homer from Courtney Cross, her first career home run.
Again, Fernley answered with two outs. Olson crushed a 3-1 pitch down the left field line for a three-run blast to give the Vaqueros a 10-4 lead.
Fallon scratched across a pair of runs in the seventh inning including an RBI double from Miranda Ford.
Kayla Buckmaster got the start for the Lady Wave and allowed seven runs — just three earned — and picked up the loss. Ford came in relief and allowed seven runs and struck out three.
Dunn, meanwhile, earned the win and struck out four.
Fallon’s defense also committed three errors and allowed all 10 runs to score with two outs.
“I think we extended some innings with errors … and our pitchers have to try to get out of situations and where our defense help out a little,” Archer said. “Our defense hadn’t been tested, so now we know some weaknesses and can fix those.”
Fernley also committed a trio of errors, but the Lady Wave was unable to take advantage.
“We played a little bit better defense,” Chapin said. “Last time (against Fallon) we had five errors. We also really concentrated on pitch location.”
With Tuesday and Wednesday’s results, three teams head into the weekend with one league loss — Fallon, Fernley and Lowry.
All three clubs are six games clear in the loss column of fourth-place Elko (7-7, 11-10). Fallon’s series against Lowry may decide the league title, Archer said.
Fernley visits Lowry on April 24-25.
“You got to come in and refocus and take those games one at a time,” Archer said. “We think these games will decide seeding. We have to come in there and be prepared.”
Baseball falls to Fernley
The Fallon baseball team fell 8-6 to Fernley in a Nothern DI-A matchup Wednesday at the Edward Arciniega Complex.
The Greenwave (8-3 league, 8-8 overall) visits Lowry (3-9, 5-11) for a three game series today and Saturday.