The 13th-ranked College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles swept the North Idaho College softball team in Scenic West Athletic Conference play March 9 and 10 at Memorial
Field in Coeur d’Alene. The Golden Eagles won 18-7 and 5-0 in the first doubleheader March 9 and 6-3 and 22-0 in the doubleheader the next day.
Freshman Brandi Hall threw a no-hitter against the Cardinals in the 22-0 win.
CSI opened up the game with a six-run first inning, which included a three RBI triple down the right-field line by Patti Ferguson.
“They’re a good-hitting team,” NIC head coach Don Don Williams said. “You got to give them credit where credit’s due. They got a couple hits on her (Hunter Allen) but obviously our defense just was making error after error. We got four people playing out of position right now due to the broken leg (Jenna Krum) and being really thin on our roster, so we just need to get in to some practice and defensive practice and get used to our new positions right now.”
The next batter, Sierra Whitmer, singled up the middle to score Ferguson, opening up a 4-0 advantage early in the game.
Ferguson struck again in the second inning with an RBI double in the left-center-field gap. Whitmer singled in another run to make it 8-0.
With the bases loaded, Allen struck out Whitney Littledike.
But the next batter, Whitney Carlton, belted a grand slam over the right-field fence to extend the lead to 12-0.
Later in the game, Aubrey Whitmer drove in two runs with a double to center to make it 14-0.
Sierra Whitmer drove a deep fly ball to center field but sophomore Amber Meyers ended the Golden Eagle threat by making a leaping catch, possibly preventing a home run.
Littledike drove in two runs later in the day to take a 17-0 lead. Another run scored on a groundout to second baseman Heather Bishop to make it 18-0.
Allen struck out Kortney Reidhead to end the inning.
“Keeping Hunter in there I think only gives her a little bit more mental toughness,” Williams said. “When you have to fight through adversity and battle that definitely is something that I think will benefit her in the future.”
Aubrey Whitmer knocked in a run with a single later in the game to make it 19-0.
Katie Hlushak hit a two-run home run over the center-field fence bringing the score to 21-0.
Reidhead singled to center and drove in a run in the process to end the Golden Eagles scoring run.
In the Cardinals’ home opener March 9, NIC sophomore catcher Shelby Carter hit a grand slam over the center-field fence to take a 7-5 lead for the Cardinals, but the Golden Eagles scored 13 unanswered runs to end the game.
The Cardinals not only lost the game but they also lost Krum for the season. Williams said Krum broke her tibia and fibula during the game.
With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the first inning, Ferguson hit a groundball to Krum, who forced the runner out at second base but injured her leg when a CSI baserunner slid into second base and Krum’s leg as she stepped into her throw to first base to try to turn the double play.
Williams said Krum’s injury is a “big loss” because she’s the starting shortstop. Williams also said starting left fielder Jordan Zumwalt is out of the lineup with a herniated disk (back).
In the second inning, CSI’s Tyler Wilkinson had an RBI single to left field with one out.
Later, two CSI runners scored on a throwing error by Carter. With runners on first and third, Wilkinson broke for second base. Carter appeared to throw the ball to Bishop to try to entice the runner on third to run to home plate but she broke toward second base to receive the throw or backup it up and the ball bounced into the outfield. The Golden Eagles led 5-0 at that point.
The Cardinals then found their offensive rhythm and climbed back into the game.
Meyers hit a groundball in the middle of the infield and advanced to second base after CSI mishandled the ball.
Meyers scored a couple batters later from third base after Tori Schuler walked with the bases loaded.
Bishop knocked in sophomore third baseman Desirae Tinoco on a fielder’s choice.
With two outs, freshman Kylene Hatton doubled in two runs on a hit to center field to cut the NIC deficit to 5-3.
On a 2-2 count, Carter hit a grand slam to take the lead for the Cardinals.
The momentum switched right back to the Golden Eagles as their bats came alive.
After a leadoff infield single by Gabby Stacey of CSI in the top of the fifth inning, Tinoco overthrew first baseman Shanika Sawyer so the runners advanced to second and third.
Stacey scored on a groundout to first.
Lea Hopson scored on a base hit to right field to tie the game at seven.
Kylee Hogue continued the rally with another single to right.
The Golden Eagles regained the lead on an RBI single by Stacey and added another run on a single to left field by Hopson.
With runners on second and third, Aubrey Whitmer hit a comebacker to NIC pitcher Laura Potts. The ball bounced off Potts’ leg for an infield RBI single.
A sacrifice fly brought another Golden Eagle runner home.
Hogue hit a three-run home run to left-center field with one out in the inning.
Allen, who started the game as pitcher, reentered the game to relieve Potts after the home run.
Hopson belted a three-run home run later in the inning to complete CSI’s scoring for the game.
