Carter, NIC stun No. 4 CSI

TWIN FALLS - Shelby Carter, who recently signed with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, hit a two-run home run to left center field in the top of the first inning to propel the fifth-seeded North Idaho College softball team past the top-seeded Southern Idaho Golden Eagles 4-1 in the quarterfinals of the Region 18 softball tournament on Thursday.

It was Carter's second straight day with a home run, taking her season total to 18.

Sophomore Emily Perlich struck out six over seven innings, walking two, and Desirae Tinoco had two hits for NIC.

CSI, ranked No. 4 in the NJCAA, had dominated NIC during Scenic West Athletic Conference play, winning all eight matchups by a combined score of 90-21.

"We have come together as a team," NIC coach Don Don Williams said. "Emily is dominating in the circle and keeping the batters guessing."

NIC (24-33) will face No. 2 seeded Salt Lake (46-9) today at 11 a.m. PDT in the semifinals. Salt Lake defeated Southern Nevada 4-0 on Thursday in the other quarterfinal.

Post Falls native Tori Schuler had an RBI groundout in the second inning for NIC, and Amber Meyers drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh.

CSI (47-10), which swept NIC in their final regular season series to clinch home-field advantage for the tournament, will face Western Nevada today at 8:30 a.m. in a loser-out game.

North Idaho 210 000 1 - 4 3 1

Southern Idaho 000 001 0 - 1 6 1

Emily Perlich and Shelby Carter; Nellie Makings, Brandi Hall (7) and Averie Schroeder. W - Perlich (16-16). L - Makings (15-5).

HITS: NIC - Carter, Tinoco 2. CSI - Wilkinson, Ferguson 2, Whitmer, Schroeder, Carlton. HR - Carter (18).