Fallon's Faith Cornmesser sprints to first while Fernley's infield crowd to field her bunt.
Fallon’s players won the game they were hoping for in cards since their first loss to Fernley. On Tuesday the Lady Wave shut out the LadyVaqueros in their rematch in Fernley, 8-0, a one-hitter pitched by Kayla Buckmaster.
After defeating Fernley (10-5-1 overall and 10-1 in DI-A), Fallon (10-1 overall and in league) heads to Elko today for a series beginning at 3 p.m. with a double-header on Saturday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Lady Wave assistant coach Dean Schulz said it was key the Lady Wave came in more relaxed and comfortable without being overconfident on Tuesday.
“The girls went out and just played solid softball,” Schulz said. “They didn’t make mistakes, they made plays, and they hit the ball.”
Fernley’s Taelyne Phillips returned to pitch a five-hitter against Fallon, a feat which might have paid off if not for 10 defensive errors committed by the Vaqueros’ infield. Fernley coach Diane Chapin said that made the difference.
“Ten errors aren’t going to win you a game,” Chapin said, “When you don’t play defense to support your pitcher, you’re not going to be successful.”
Fallon’s Miranda Ford was the first to score a run, followed by Megan McCormick who driven in on an RBI by Paige Thorn. Faith Cornmesser had the last run before the third out, putting the Wave up 3-0.
After pitching a clean top of the second inning, three batters three outs, Buckmaster also had the hit of the game for the Lady Wave in the bottom of the second with a two-run home run RBI, bringing in Kalyn Huckaby to put the Wave on top, 5-0.
“When our girls are batting well, they’re batting well,” Schulz said. “Kayla has always had a great swing and it all boils back to confidence and what the kids get from the environment around them.”
The Vaqueros held Fallon for two innings until the bottom of the fifth when the Wave scored two runs on overthrows to home plate by Phillips, soon-after cruising to an 8-0 victory.
The Vaqueros’ only hit came from Alexandria Conder, a bunt single that caused catcher Caitlyn Welch and Buckmaster to collide at the plate.
“Fernley is still a good team, and we’re not taking anything away from them,” Schulz said. “8-0 isn’t a blowout. Anything can happen in one inning. We just had a great game.”
With Elko this weekend, Schulz said the Lady Wave will play the same softball they did Tuesday — relaxed, confident, doing what they know how to do.
“Just pitching. catching, and pitchers trusting the defense behind them which is huge,” Schulz said. “Our defense hasn’t let the pitchers down yet. Tuesday they didn’t and I know they won’t this week.”