Carson shortstop Josiah Pongassi watches a base hit drop in the outfield Thursday against the Reno Huskies.
The never-say-die attitude of the Carson Senators took center stage.
The Senators rallied from an 8-0 deficit to take a 10-9 lead before dropping a 15-10 decision to perennial powerhouse Reno Thursday afternoon at Ron McNutt Field.
The loss dropped Carson to 4-4 in league play and Reno improved to 6-2. Carson is off until Tuesday when it visits Spanish Springs at 3:45 p.m.
This was a difficult one to swallow because the Senators were one out away from the win. Coach Bryan Manoukian said he was far from disappointed by the outcome.
“I couldn’t be more proud of our kids,” he said after a lengthy post-game talk. “I was impressed with their resiliency and fight. We were down 8-0 in the third, and that’s a recipe for a 10-run game. We fought back and actually had the lead.”
“I’m not disappointed at all,” said senior catcher-pitcher Brandon Allen. “The team battled the whole way. I’m super proud. It didn’t go our way, but we improved a lot.”
Carson led 10-9 entering the top of the seventh following a game-tying two-run double by Allen, his third two-bagger of the day, and a go-ahead single from Terek Been to give the Senators a lead.
Allen is 4-for-8 in his last three games.
“I’m seeing the ball and not taking a lot of strikes. My wrist feels good,” Allen said. “It’s nice (to get some hits).”
“Brandon is now able to get that top hand through the ball now that his hand/wrist isn’t bothering him,” Manoukian said.
Bryce Moyle, who worked 4.2 innings of stellar relief, hit Ryan Boucher with an 0-2 pitch to start the seventh. Christopher Chamberlain bunted him to second. Chris Haines walked and Kris Roberts walked. That brought up Garrett Gouldsmith, who had killed Carson on Tuesday with two two-out hits. Carson chose to pitch to him, and he ripped a game-tying single. Moyle fanned Carter Knedgen to end the inning.
“We thought about it,” Manoukian said. “Actually, we were trying to pitch around him, but Bryce caught a little to much of the plate and Gouldsmith made us pay. He is one of the best in Northern Nevada.
“Bryce did an amazing job. He threw almost five innings and only gave up a couple of runs. He kept them at bay.”
Carson had a great chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, too.
With two outs, Cody Azevedo walked and stole second. Jesse Lopez followed with a single to right-centerfield. Azevedo was cut down on a controversial call at the plate. Azevedo said after the game he felt he had gotten in under the tag.
“It was a really close play,” Manoukian said. “The umpire made the call right away, so I’ll defer to him. Cody did take a wide turn around third.”
Both teams threatened in the eighth, both stranding runners in scoring position. Reno left a runner at third, while Carson left runners at first and second.
The roof caved in on Carson in the ninth.
Azevedo walked Haines, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Gouldsmith followed with a run-scoring double to make it 11-10. After Gouldsmith stole third, Manoukian intentionally walked Cooper Krug (two homers in the game) and Conor Allard to load the bases. Hayes Riedeman followed with a run-scoring single and Ryan Boucher hit a three-run double to make it 15-10.
Carson went out quietly in the ninth.
NOTES: Pongasi has now reached base in every league game after going 2-for-5 ... Besides his relief work, Moyle hit a three-run homer in the third, cutting the lead to 8-4. It was his first homer of the year ... Allen finished with four RBI, his best effort in league play. Lopez, Conner Pradere, Been and Joe Nelson all had two hits .