First-inning explosion does in Carson softball

The Carson Senators have suffered through some tough innings, but nothing like the first inning Tuesday afternoon.

Damonte Ranch hit four homers in the first inning, including a grand slam by winning pitcher Payton Molina, en route to 13 runs and an easy 20-2 Northern Division I victory.

The Damonte win avenged a 9-7 opening game loss to the Senators.

First innings have been rough for Carson. The Senators gave up 16 combined in their final two games of the Reed tourney and another 13 Tuesday.

Freshman Lauren Lemburg started, and failed to record an out while allowing two homers and a double. She gave up six runs, all earned.

“Her back was bothering her,” CHS coach Shane Quilling. “It started on Saturday. I had to pulll her in the first inning of our last game. She’s been throwing well, and she throws 54 or 55.

“We’re a long way from being a good team. I thought this would be a dogfight.”

Morgan Cartledge walked and scored ahead of Alex Garlock’s homer. Maddie Miramon followed with another round-tripper to make it 3-0. After Brittany Parson walked, Emma Covert followed with a run-scoring double. After Makaylah Tuxon singled, Anna Bonk singled off reliever Makenzie Tucker to make it 5-0.

Brylynn Vallejos walked to load the bases and Molina followed with her grand slam to make it 9-0. Covert hit a three-run homer and Bonk added a rn-scoring single to complete the 13-run and 10-hit outburst.

Carson responded with one in the first when Bailey Allen singled, moved to second when Makenzie Tucker walked and scored on Nicole Brown’s single. Brown went 3-for-3 and drove in both CHS runs while Allen went 2-for-3. The only other Carson hit came from Elise Brady.

“They (Allen and Brown) swung the bat well,” Quilling said. “Their girl was an average pitcher, and we didn’t hit the ball.”

Damonte tacked on two in the second on a wild pitch and a Covert single. Carson made it 15-2 in the third on Brown’s two-out single.

After a scoreless third, Damonte scored four in the fifth thanks to three Carson errors, and added a run in the fifth on Kyndra Hans’ solo homer.

The game was stopped after five because of the 10-run rule.

Carson returns to action Monday at 3:45 p.m. at Hug.

BASEBALL

RENO TOPPLES DOUGLAS

A nine-run second inning rally Tuesday afternoon put the Reno Huskies on track to a 15-8 Northern Division I baseball victory at Douglas.

Douglas (0-10 conference, 2-13 overall) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, only to see the three-time defending region tournament champion Huskies go on to their second-inning explosion at Tiger Field.

Kindel Isham hit 3-for-4 with 1 RBI, while Hayden Keller went 2-for-3 with 3 runs scored and Cale Kynett 2-for-3 with 2 RBI to lead Douglas offensively. The Tigers collected nine hits in the contest, however, they were hindered by seven errors in the field.

Conor Allard went 5-for-6 with a double and 3 RBI to lead Reno’s 17-hit attack. Cooper Krug hit 3-for-4 with 2 RBI.

Reno improved its record 14-3 overall.

Douglas plays Reed on Friday in a 4 p.m. game at Reno Aces Ballpark.