Squeeze bunt sparks Foothill to softball win over Rancho

Foothill's Allie Fox (16) tosses to Morgan Matsumoto (7) to get Rancho baserunner Lorena De La Torre (2) out in the second inning of their softball game against Rancho at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Foothill pitcher Leah Becker (5) pitches against Rancho during their softball game at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. Emma Blanchfield Las Vegas Review-Journal

Foothill's Skylar Glaude (13) throws to Morgan Matsumoto (7) to get Rancho baserunner Gianna Carosone (66) out in the first inning of their softball game at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. Emma Blanchfield Las Vegas Review-Journal

Rancho's MacKenzie Perry (99) gets a hit against Foothill in the first inning of their softball game at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Foothill pitcher Leah Becker (5) throws to Morgan Matsumoto (7) for an out in the first inning of their softball game against Rancho at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Foothill pitcher Leah Becker (5) pitches against Rancho during their softball game at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Rancho's Isa Alvarado (16) bobbles the ball as Foothill baserunner Makenzie Andrews (10) slides safely into second base in the third inning of their softball game at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Rancho's Gianna Carosone (66) gets an out on a Foothill baserunner at third base in the third inning of their softball game at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Foothill's Morgan Matsumoto (7) throws to first after getting out Rancho baserunner Kaitlyn Suarez (32) in the fourth inning of their softball game at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Foothill's Skylar Glaude (13) dives for a wild throw as Rancho baserunner Gianna Carosone (66) slides into third base in the fourth inning of their softball game at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. Carosone scored on the play. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Rancho Gianna Carosone (66) throws to first against Foothill in the fourth inning their softball game at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Rancho pitcher MacKenzie Perry (99) pitches against Foothill in the second inning of their softball game against Rancho at Foothill High School in Henderson Thursday, April 26, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

Foothill freshman Allie Fox beat Rancho on Thursday with one fell swing.

Well, sort of.

Fox executed a successful squeeze bunt in the eighth inning to lift the Falcons to a 2-1 home softball win over the Rams in a key late-season Sunrise League matchup.

Rancho (17-13, 11-6) and Foothill (12-16, 11-6) split the season series and are tied for fourth in the league with eight days remaining in the regular season and region seeding on the line.

“We’re battling to try and get ourselves in a home game, first-round playoff game,” Falcons coach Tom Mayes said. “We’ll see what happens, but definitely big (win) … We knew it was going to be a close game.”

The Rams took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning after a throwing error and nifty running from Gianna Carosone, who reached base on a fielder’s choice.

Rancho pitcher MacKenzie Perry was splendid while protecting that lead and struck out eight. But Falcons tied the game in the seventh inning after loading the bases on two errors.

Falcons pitcher Leah Becker was equally as dominant, allowing two hits in eight innings, and retired the Rams in order in the eighth.

Kylie Becker led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a triple, Mayes ordered the bunt and Fox made the most of her opportunity.

“It (was) my part of the game to win this thing,” she said. “My freshman year, it’s amazing to be on varsity and play with the older girls.”

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Contact reporter Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on Twitter.