Julia Jensen and Aliya Lange turned in dominant outings on Saturday to lead the Raiders to a home doubleheader sweep of North Valleys.
With the pair of victories, Reed improved to 25-1-1, and a perfect 18-0 in the DI North with just four games to play in the regular season. The Panthers, who are eliminated form postseason contention, fell to 3-18, 3-15.
The Raiders will prepare to defend their three straight regional titles after putting a bow on the regular season this week. They host McQueen on Tuesday, go to McQueen on Wednesday, then host a season-ending doubleheader with Spanish Springs on Saturday.
Reed 5, North Valleys 1
Lange turned in the second strong performance by a Reed pitcher to seal a doubleheader sweep.
Lange fanned 12 in a complete game three hitter, allowing a lone run.
The Panthers scored their only run of the day in the top of the second with a walk followed a pair of singles. The Raiders rebuttaled with two in the bottom of the inning.
Rheanna Smith led the inning off with a double and scored on an Alysha Imperato sac fly. Mariah Adame pushed Reed in front with an RBI single, allowing Ryia Grant to score.
The hosts played add on in the third, plating two more runs. They scored their final insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. It was unearned.
Reed 9, North Valleys 0
Jensen struck out 15 in a complete three-hitter as the Raiders rolled in Saturday’s first game.
Reed used a methodical approach, scoring at least once in every inning but the fourth and sixth. A four-run third busted open a 3-0 game.
Alexis Gonzalez (2-for-3, double, RBI, run) and Grant (2-for-2, double, RBI, run) led Reed at the plate.
Cougs stay two games clear of Reno for second
Spanish Springs maintained a two-game lead over Reno for second place with a pair of narrow home wins against Carson on Saturday.
A second-place finish would be big for the Cougs (20-10, 15-3) because it would mean starting the regional tournament on the opposite side of Reed in the bracket.
Carson fell to 7-21, 4-14 and was eliminated from the postseason.
The Cougs close out the regular season with four games this week. They host Bishop Manogue today, play the Miners at their place on Thursday, then go to Reed for a doubleheader on Saturday.
Spanish Springs 4, Carson 1
The Cougs scored three times in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-0 lead. That was all Hayley Fein needed in Saturday’s final contest.
Spanish Springs’ senior ace allowed just two hits over seven scoreless innings while striking out eight and walking one. The Senators scored their lone run off reliever Amidori Anderson in the top of the sixth.
Senior catcher Kourtney Townsent went 3-for-3 with a double, triple and two RBIs.
Although they only won 4-1, the Cougars outhit the Senators 10-3.
Spanish Springs 3, Carson 0
Fein turned in the first of two brilliant outings in Saturday’s first game.
She struck out nine and allowed just three hits in a complete game shutout of the Senators.
The Cougars’ lead sat at just 1-0 until the hosts scored twice in the bottom of the sixth.
No Spanish Springs player finished with more than one hit.
Railroaders win, lose, tie in Lassen
Sparks did a little bit of everything on Saturday in a non-league tournament at Lassen.
The Railroaders went 1-1-1 in three games and now sit at 6-18-1, 5-15 in the DI-A North.
Still mathematically alive for the sixth and final playoff spot (3.5 games back of Spring Creek), Sparks wraps up the regular season with three games this week. It hosts Truckee (4-20, 1-19) on Tuesday then hosts three against Fallon (16-2, 16-2) this weekend.
Sparks 8, Yreka 5
The Railroaders took a 7-0 lead after two innings in the final game of the weekend then hung on late to seal their only victory of the trip.
Yreka dipped to 7-18-1 overall.
Marisa Coleman was 3-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs and two runs scored.
Colusa 8, Sparks 4
An 8-0 hole was too deep to climb out of in Sparks second of three games on Saturday.
The Railroaders outhit Colusa (17-6) 10-7 but four defensive errors hurt their cause.
Cynthia Barela was 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and run scored.
Sparks 6, Anderson 6
A three-run top of the fifth for the Railroaders tied Saturday’s first contest at 6-6. Nobody scored again.
The Railroaders settled for their first tie of the season despite outhitting Anderson (2-15-1), 9-4.
Angie Ruiz was 3-for-3 with three RBIs.
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