Catcher Malia Tiffer and Damonte Ranch's Emma Covert.
After two innings of Thursday’s Sierra League matchup, the Carson softball team found itself in an 8-1 hole.
By the end of the game, the Senators went home with a walk-off 12-11 victory against Damonte Ranch.
The start was disastrous for the Senators and pitcher Kaitlyn Jimmy. Damonte scored eight runs off Jimmy, but only one was earned. Jimmy was the victim of some bad Senator defense. She gave up four hits and two walks. But four errors and four wild pitches or passed balls cost the Senators.
Carson erased the deficit with three runs in the third, one in the fourth, three in the fifth and sixth and the winning run in the seventh.
It was the top of the order that carried Carson. In the third, with one out, leadoff hitter Kandis Tuttle singled to start the rally. Bailey Allen doubled home Tuttle to make it 8-2. Jennifer Purcell followed with a two-run home run to cut it 8-4.
After Damonte went up 9-4 off reliever Becka Breuer in the fourth, Malia Tiffer doubled home Michelle Perry for Carson’s fifth run of the game.
In the fifth, Purcell scored on Breuer’s double; Aubrey Northrup, who had walked, scored on an error; and Breuer cut the lead to 9-8 when she scored on an error.
Damonte pushed its lead back to three after scoring three runs on a walk and two hits.
Carson then tied the game with the top of the order leading the way.
Tuttle singled, Allen followed with a single but an error allowed Tuttle to score to cut the lead to 11-9. Purcell then doubled home Allen to cut the lead to 11-10. Purcell scored the tying run when Northrup singled.
Breuer held Damonte scoreless in the top of the seventh, setting the stage for Senators to go home happy.
With two outs, Allen double. After Purcell and Northrup were walked to load the bases, Allen scored on a passed ball.
Breuer pitched six innings in relief to pick up the win. Tuttle went 3-for-5 with two runs from the leadoff spot. Allen went 4-for-5 with four runs in the No. 2 spot. Purcell went 3-for-4 with three runs and three RBI in the third spot. Northrup was 2-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in the cleanup spot.
Carson is 7-7-1 overall and 4-2 in league.
