Red-hot Bulldogs bombard Bears in sweep
MOSCOW — The Bulldogs banged out 11 extra base hits among their 31 on the day, and rode a pair of strong pitching performances to a 10-0, 14-5 sweep of the Bears in 4A Inland Empire League softball action on Thursday in Moscow.
Bri Baldree fired a two-hit shutout in the opener, striking out nine after the Bulldogs (10-3, 7-0) jumped out to a 5-0 first inning lead and never looked back. Baldree also ripped six hits on the day as well, including a double and triple, and Sandpoint hung up crooked numbers early and often in one of the best league hitting displays in the program’s history.
“We pounded the ball today,” claimed Bulldogs head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams, whose team was routinely finding gaps for extra bases. “I’ve never seen so many balls hit to the fence.”
Audrey Mattila threw a six-hit complete game to log a quality start and pick up her first win for the Bulldogs in the nightcap, and the bats stayed red-hot with 18 base knocks in a 14-5 win.
Bri Barlow set the table atop the order with three hits, Kaitlan Ward added two doubles and Zoe Speelmon a triple as the Bulldogs once again jumped out quick and never looked back.
“They were all on today. I had pinch hitters, everyone 1 through 12, were pounding the ball to the fence,” praised Hawkins-Williams. “It’s the most offensive production I’ve ever seen out of a team. It was incredible to watch.”
No. 1 seed Sandpoint will host winner of Monday’s loser-out game between No. 2 Lakeland and No. 3 Moscow on Wednesday in the 4A Region 1 championship game in Sandpoint, with the winner advancing to the state softball tournament.
Game 1
Sandpoint 501 40 — 10 13 0
Moscow 000 00 — 0 2 2
Bri Baldree and Sam Holland. W — Baldree (7-1).
HITS: Spt — Barlow 2, Baldree 2, Ward 2, Holland 2, Davis, Bradley 2, Dewey, Speelmon. 2B — Barlow, Baldree, Holland 2, Davis. 3B — Bradley.
Game 2
Sandpoint 303 030 5 — 14 18 3
Moscow 000 302 0 — 5 6 1
Audrey Mattila and Ember Dewey. W — Matilla (1-0).
HITS: Spt — Barlow 3, Nicholson 2, Baldree 4, Ward 2, Holland 2, Davis, Speelmon 2, Matilla, Guthrie. 2B — Ward 2, Holland. 3B — Speelmon, Baldree.
n Bulldog boys sweep Bears
MOSCOW — The Bulldogs earned the right to host the first game of the district tournament after a big 7-6, 15-6 sweep of the Bears in a 4A Inland Empire League baseball doubleheader on Thursday in Moscow.
The Bulldogs (8-8, 4-4 4A IEL) evened their record on the season, and have now swept both league opponents and been swept by both opponents. Sandpoint head coach Chase Lowther liked the resolve his team showed to come back and win the first game after a long bus ride.
“Game one was a really great game of baseball. We had the lead, then lost the lead, and then came back and scored three runs in the top of the seventh to go up by one run,” described Tigert. “They all did a tremendous job. It was a team effort all the way around.”
Complete results were not available at press time.
No. 2 seed Sandpoint will host No. 3 Moscow in the loser-out game of the 4A Region 1 baseball tournament on Tuesday at Pine St. Field.