NIC swept by Salt Lake in regular season finale

SALT LAKE CITY — Former Lake City High standout Jessica Ross hit a two-run home run that proved to be the lone runs for North Idaho College as the top-ranked Salt Lake Community College Bruins swept the Cardinals in the regular season finale for both teams Saturday at Bruin Field.

Catcher Syd Allen went 3 for 3 in the first game with two runs scored as Sarah Clark pitched a complete game two-hitter for Salt Lake (56-3, 44-3 SWAC).

North Idaho (32-28, 25-23) will be the No. 4 seed in this week’s Region 18 tournament at Bruin Field, and faces No. 5 Snow College on Thursday at noon MDT.

Southern Nevada will face Western Nevada at 9:30 a.m. in the other opening round game.

Southern Idaho will enter as the No. 2 seed and faces the winner of the Southern Nevada-Western Nevada game on Thursday at 2:30 p.m.

League champion and top seed Salt Lake will face the winner of the NIC-Snow game on Thursday at 5 p.m.

The tournament runs through Saturday. The winner advances to the NJCAA tournament May 20-22 in St. George, Utah.

FIRST GAME

North Idaho 000 00 — 0 2 0

Salt Lake 431 0x — 9 15 1

Game called in 5th inning due to 8-run rule.

Alyssa Erickson and Renae Kimbell; Sarah Clark and Cyd Allen. W — Clark (19-2). L — Erickson (12-11).

HITS: NIC — Hartnett, Gonzales. SLCC — Graham 2, James 2, Allen 3, McDonald, Brinkerhoff 2, Jachim 2, Phillips 2, Clark. 2B — Hartnett, James, Jachim, Clark. 3B — James.

SECOND GAME

North Idaho 200 00 — 2 6 1

Salt Lake 023 32 — 10 15 0

Game called in 5th inning due to 8-run rule.

Kathy Comack, Jessica Ross (2) and Renae Kimbell, Shelby Gonzales (3); Jordyn McDonald and Cyd Allen. WP — McDonald (29-0). L — Ross (7-6).

HITS: NIC — Hawley, Ross 2, Hartnett, Plenger, Stark. SLCC — Graham 2, James 3, Elliott 2, Allen, McDonald 2, Brinkerhoff 2, Jachim, Phillips. 2B — Elliott 2, Allen, Jachim. HR — Ross (11).