Gonzales sets career homer mark as Cardinals win twice
<p>Justin Newton, of North Idaho College, putts the fourth hole Friday during the Cardinal Challenge at Avondale Golf Course in Hayden.</p>
SOFTBALL
RANGLEY, Colo. - North Idaho College sophomore catcher Shelby Gonzales was intentionally walked nine of the 10 times she stepped up to the plate on Friday.
That one swing was for the record books as Gonzales set the school record for home runs in a career with her 30th as the Cardinals swept Colorado Northwestern 15-2 and 9-2 in a Scenic West Athletic Conference doubleheader.
"They wouldn't pitch to her the whole first game," NIC assistant coach Angie Boardman said. "The second game, in her first at-bat, they made a mistake and threw one right down the pipe and she took it yard."
Alyssa Erickson went 2 for 3 with a two-run home run in the third inning of the first game for NIC (32-23, 25-19 SWAC) and the Cardinals tacked on six runs in the seventh inning to pull away.
Blake Meredith had eight strikeouts in the second game and the Cardinals got home runs from Maddie Edwards and Brianna Bishop.
Colorado Northwestern falls to 2-45, 2-39.
The teams conclude their weekend series today.
FIRST GAME
North Idaho 203 400 6 - 15 7 2
C. Northwestern 002 000 0 - 2 11 4
Jenifer Rosie, Blake Meredith (5) and Shelby Gonzales; Jessica Olsen and Meagan Lish. W - Rosie (9-10). L - Olsen.
HITS: NIC - DeAnda, Meredith 2, Tinoco, Moon, Erickson 2. CN - Hall, Rupp, Brimhall, Myers 3, Cook, Olsen, Mier 2, Lish. 2B - Lish. HR - Erickson (5).
SECOND GAME
North Idaho 130 300 2 - 9 13 1
C. Northwestern 100 000 1 - 2 8 2
Jenifer Rosie, Blake Meredith (4) and Shelby Gonzales; Sydney Gibbs and Meagan Lish. W - Rosie (10-10). L - Gibbs.
HITS: NIC - Gonzales, DeAnda, Meredith, Moon 2, Wise, Erickson 3, Edwards 2, Bishop. CN - Hall 2, Rupp, Myers 3, Mier 2. 2B - Moon 2, Myers. 3B - DeAnda, Mier. HR - Gonzales (27), Edwards (3), Bishop (4).
Cardinal Classic
HAYDEN LAKE - In lieu of a tournament, the Cardinals played a fundraiser Ryder-Cup style match against a collection of NIC boosters.
The Cardinals are raising funds to send their men's and women's teams to the NJCAA championships.
The men's nationals are May 17-20 in Odessa, Texas.
The women's nationals are May 16-19 in Daytona Beach, Fla.