Carbon Softball Outlasts Grand County

Carbon’s Makenna Pendergrass swings at incoming pitch against Grand County on April 18. (Photo Credit: Loren Miller)
Carbon softball defeated the Grand County Red Devils 7-6 on Wednesday at the Carbon County Fairgrounds.
 It was a close game throughout the whole game, something the Dinos hadn’t experience since their last lost at Union in March.
Carbon softball Head Coach Wade Williams said that the familiarity with Grand County and their pitcher made the game close.
“We played them quite a few times, they knew our hitters and their pitchers hit their spots. We were aggressive and when their pitcher was hitting her spots, we struggled to adjust to that,” said Williams.
 With the Red Devils leading Carbon 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth inning, senior Cali Fossat hit a solo home run to lead off the inning to help get the offense going for the Dinos. 
Carbon would add two more runs in the fourth inning after a double by Dekota Kraushaar scored Kennedy Nelson and a walk with the bases loaded given up by Grand.
Fossat’s day wasn’t over at the plate, she hit another solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth to give the Dinos a 5-2 lead.
“It was big, she came in and it was a close game and it really demoralized the other pitcher,” said Williams.
 In the top of the sixth the Dinos lost their 6-2 lead thanks to two big doubles by Grand. 
Carbon would break the 6-6 tie with a Fossat hit that resulted in a fielder’s choice by Grand which allowed Kaytlyn Cripps to score. 
Cripps started the game for the Dinos but was replaced in the circle by freshman Brooke Moosman in the fifth inning. Cripps gave up two hits and had three strikeouts pitching the first four innings. 
Despite a rough sixth inning where she gave up four runs, Moosman would bounce back and seal the win for Carbon in the seventh inning by not allowing a hit or a run in the seventh.
“It was pretty big, she doesn’t buckle under pressure which is really good. She has confidence in herself and she knows how to get the job done even when she is struggling,” said Fossat.
 Wednesday’s win gives the Dinos their seventh straight win and their tenth non-region win of the season. 
Carbon will host their rival Emery on Thursday night at 7 p.m. under the lights of the Carbon County Fairgrounds. 
The Dinos will return to Region 14 action next week when they head to American Leadership Academy on Tuesday. Carbon is currently tied for first place in the standings with Juab and Union, each team only has one loss.