Dayton baseball beats Battle Mountain

The Dayton High baseball team warmed up for a key Northern 3A doubleheader today beating Battle Mountain 12-2 on Friday.

Matt Bowman went 4-for-4 with four RBI and hit a game-clinching two-run home run to help lead the Dust Devils. Tim Torres also went 3-for-3 with five RBI and hit a three-run homer while Danny Hopper had two hits and two RBI, including a two-run homer.

Dayton beat a Battle Mountain team that is unbeaten in the Northern 2A and gained revenge for a loss to the Longhorns earlier this year.

"It was good for us because we haven't played in a week," Dayton coach Craig Miller said.

The Dust Devils conclude Northern 3A play today with a doubleheader at Yerington. If Dayton can sweep the Lions, it will clinch at least a No. 3 seed and possibly a No. 2 seed in the Northern 3A playoffs.

That's important because that would mean Dayton would be at home in the playoffs. Six Northern 3A teams will play best-of-three series with the three winners going to the NIAA State Championships.

Torres hit his three-run shot in the first inning as Dayton scored four runs and Hopper hit his two-run shot in the second as the Dust Devils scored five runs to take a 9-2 lead. Bowman's two-run shot ended the game in the fifth as Dayton won by the 10-run rule.

Casey Skog pitched one inning for the win. Andrew Rice, Jayce Dillie and Matt Hornback also pitched for the Dust Devils.

Dayton was able to save its two top starters - Travis Wood and Adam Diament for today. Miller said that everyone will be available for today's games.

Skog also had a triple, Rice had a hit and an RBI and Diament added a double against Battle Mountain.