BASALT – Just four games into the season, the Basalt boys baseball team has already guaranteed itself a better record than last spring.

The Class 3A Longhorns swept Class 4A Battle Mountain Saturday at the Basalt Middle School field. Basalt downed the Huskies 7-6 in an epic 10-inning affair, then rolled to a 7-3 victory in a normal seven-stanza contest on the back end of the twin bill.

“Last year was kind of a tough year,” Basalt coach Jason Landa said. “We only got one win and it came pretty late, so we’re excited about this. It brings us to .500 and we haven’t been there for a while.”

In the first game Zack Southward proved to be the difference, hitting a one-out single with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run.

Basalt (2-2) led most of the way before the Huskies managed to tie the score at 4-all to send the contest into extra innings.

Battle Mountain took a 6-4 lead in the top of the eighth, but A.J. Hobbs notched a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the frame to keep the Longhorns alive.

After a scoreless ninth and top half of the 10th, Basalt moved its lead runner to third with one out. Battle Mountain intentionally walked two batters to set up the force at home or double play, but never got the chance due to Southward’s knock.

Basalt’s Nick Harris went eight innings on the mound before being pulled with the score knotted at 4-4. Colter Hinch finished out the game and was credited with the win.

In the second game, the Longhorns had a much easier time thanks in part to the arm of pitcher Darren Duroux.

Duroux pitched a complete game and allowed just three hits in the victory.

Defensively, Landa singled out catcher Jake Rankin, and Hobbs and Colter on the left side of the infield.

“Jake had a couple of hits, caught both games and did a great job behind the plate,” Landa said. “A.J. and Colter had great games defensively, as well.”

Basalt plays a Class 3A Western Slope League game Tuesday on the road against rival Roaring Fork.