It was a strong offensive burst to start the game and a solid combination of pitching and defense to end it that carried the Douglas softball team to a 5-3 win over Damonte Ranch in Minden Friday.
The Tigers got three first-inning doubles to put up two runs and take the early lead before Morgan Blomstrom's three-run home run to center field in the bottom of the third gave them all the distance they'd need in the win.
"It wasn't our best game, but we were able to get ahead there early and the pitching and defense held on to get the win," Douglas coach Andy Mitchell said. "We were definitely really happy to get this one."
The game was a make-up after Thursday's rain/snow-out and marked the first of a crucial three-game set in the Sierra League.
The Tigers improved 11-2 in Sierra League play with the win to take over first place, at least temporarily, in the league standings while Damonte dropped to 10-3.
The two teams will meet up for a doubleheader in Reno beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.
"We definitely wanted to get this first one at home," Mitchell said. "Whoever can win this series is obviously in a really good position for the rest of the regular season. We just have to take it one game at a time and hopefully be able to steal one up there."
Douglas' Kalee Duryee picked up the complete-game win after battling through some trouble in the first inning, loading the bases with only one out.
After allowing a run on a hit batsmen with the bases loaded, Duryee induced a foul ball to first baseman Morgan Blomstrom and a ground ball to second baseman Brenna White to get out of the jam.
Emily Weaver led off the bottom half of the inning with a double down the third-base line. Maddy Gilbert lined another double to the same spot, moving Weaver to third and Katrina Morgan singled to bring Weaver home.
Rebecca Trute then belted a one-out double to center to bring Gilbert around and put Douglas up 2-1.
After Gilbert and Morgan singled to open the bottom of the third, Blomstrom hammered a home run to center to set the score at 5-1.
Damonte's Lexie McKinnon, who went 3-for-3 on the day, belted a two-run home run in the top of the fourth to cut the score to 5-3, but the score stayed the same through the remainder.
Duryee battled out of some trouble in the sixth as Damonte put runners on first and third with a one-out double from McKinnon and a single from Chanel Bates. A ground ball back to the circle and a line drive to center, however, ended the threat.
Morgan led the Tigers, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI, while Gilbert was 2-for-3 and Weaver and Brenna White each went 1-for-3.
Damonte got a pair of hits each from Ashley Barrett and Brittany Dolley (who finished with two doubles) and an RBI from Mackenzie Wolfe.
