Carson plays longball in win over Tigers

MINDEN - The Carson softball team might consider changing its name to the Blue Bombers after Tuesday's game.

The Senators blasted five home runs, pounded out 14 hits and raced away with a 16-3 win over the rival Douglas Tigers in Minden.

"I don't think I've seen five home runs before, at least not where we're on the dishing out side," Carson coach Scott Vickery said. "We're hitting the ball well, and we started trying to lift it during the last game.

"We've been working on getting them to drop the back shoulder and lift the ball out. It showed a little bit today. It's a great group of girls, the chemistry is good and they are hitting the cover off the ball right now."

Carson's No. 2 hitter Jennifer Purcell got things going for Carson after falling back 1-2 with one out in the top of the first. She cranked the fifth pitch she saw deep over left center for the early 1-0 lead.

It was the start of a career day for Purcell, who went 4-for-5 with a double, two home runs and a whopping eight RBIs. Her second home run was a grand slam.

Purcell's first shot was matched two pitches later by pitcher Christa McGahuey, who also lifted a shot over left center for the 2-0 lead.

Douglas got out of the inning from there and held the score at 2-0 entering the third inning.

"It was 2-0 and I wasn't comfortable with that," Vickery said. "(Douglas coach) Andy (Mitchell) has a great squad and two runs isn't going to be enough against them."

Carson really got things going in that third inning, scoring seven runs on four hits and an error.

McGahuey got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and catcher Danielle Morrow reached safely on an error after attempting a sacrifice bunt.

Ellise McGowan later stepped to the plate with one out and blasted a three-run shot to left for a 5-0 lead.

Rebecka Breuer doubled to left center, Hannah Winder was hit by a pitch and Emily Collins loaded the bases with a single. Purcell followed with her grand slam on the second pitch she saw, running the score to 9-0.

Douglas scratched a run across in the bottom of the third after Amanda Caras drew a leadoff walk and Aaliyah Paxson singled. The runners moved to second and third on a passed ball and Caras scored on a sacrifice fly from Katie Kluever.

Purcell hit a two-run double in the fifth, giving the Senators an 11-1 lead, but Douglas brought a pair of runs around in the bottom half to extend the game.

"We were trying to end the game early and Douglas just kept battling back," Vickrey said. "That's the type of team they have."

Carson sealed the game with a five-run sixth highlighted by a solo home run from Lindsey Ashbaugh.

McGahuey closed out the game from there on nine pitches in the bottom of the sixth. She scattered eight hits in the complete-game effort.

"She does a great job for us," Vickrey said. "She gets up there, knows the locations she wants to hit and challenges you to beat her. She threw well today."