Fernley wins again behind another Johnson home run

Sevreana Johnson's long hits are helping to extend Fernley's softball season a little longer.

Johnson's two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning Friday was the decisive blow in the Vaqueros' 3-2 win over Lowry in the Class 3A state tournament at Faith Lutheran.

Johnson, whose three-run homer Thursday was the winning hit in the Vaqueros' victory over Pahrump Valley, was hitless in her first three at-bats Friday. But following a one-out walk to Frances Estrada, she clubbed another clutch blow.

Fernley is undefeated heading into the double-elimination tournament's final round. The Vaqueros play Lowry at 10 a.m. today. Should Lowry win, a second game would be played at noon.

Heather Mathews struck out three of the last four Lowry batters and eight in all to earn her second consecutive complete-game victory.

"We really wanted to beat Lowry," Mathews said. "They beat us a couple times in league play and we wanted revenge."

Lowry's Cheri Ingle led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to break a 1-1 tie, and pitcher Ambar Huish seemed to be in control until Johnson's blast.

"I'm proud of them," Fernley coach Diane Chapin said. "They hit the ball well and never gave up."

Seandra Beck was 2-for-3 and Nikole Whitney 2-for-4 for Fernley. Huish pitched a complete game and went 3-for-3 with a run for the Buckaroos.

• Lowry 5, Pahrump Valley 2 -- Christal Herrera went 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and two stolen bases to help the Buckaroos stay alive by ousting the Trojans.

Huish pitched a complete game to get the win.

Herrera doubled to drive in Lowry's second run and then walked, stole second base and scored the decisive run in the fifth inning.

"We knew we had to win this one," Herrera said. "We showed a lot of heart."

Angela Dennis was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run for Lowry.

Ashley Barney went 2-for-3 with an RBI and pitched six innings with six strikeouts for the Trojans.

• Pahrump Valley 7, Boulder City 6 -- In the first elimination game, Taylor Raymer doubled and scored the winning run on Christine Gamble's single in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Raymer was 4-for-5 with a triple, two doubles and three runs. The Eagles' Caiti Forrester was 2-for-4 with a homer.