NIC SOFTBALL: Cardinals sweep at Blue Mountain

PENDLETON, Ore. — Former Lake City High standout Brittany Gay homered twice to drive in five runs and both Katie Barron and Nicole Miller drove in four runs each to lead the North Idaho Cardinals past the Blue Mountain Timberwolves 20-6 in the opening game of a Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader on Friday.

Barron, who started the game in the circle for NIC (8-2, 2-0 NWAC), struck out seven in the win. Lexi Courtney went 4 for 5 with three runs scored, and former Coeur d’Alene standout Ana Raynor scored three runs in the win.

“Today was a good performance for our team,” NIC coach Don Don Williams said. “They came out strong defensively and produced a lot of runs offensively. It was nice to finally see our lineup string some hits together and push runs across the plate.”

Abby Howard hit a grand slam and Barron hit a three-run homer as the Cardinals beat the Timberwolves 12-3 in the second game.

Blue Mountain is 2-8, 0-2.

NIC visits Treasure Valley for a doubleheader today starting at noon.

A box score for the second game was not available.

FIRST GAME

North Idaho 140 070 8 — 20 16 0

Blue Mountain 001 041 0 — 6 12 6

Katie Barron, Chloe McIntosh and Abby Howard; T. Snyder, A. Turner (5) and S. Saxton. W — Barron (5-1). L — Snyder (1-3).

HITS: NIC — McIntosh 3, Howard, Barron, Miller 2, Lallas, Gay 2, Courtney 4, Raynor 2. BMCC — Cagle 2, Ulrey 3, Wedgworth, Harrington, Chaulsett-Utley 3, Reser, Turner. 2B — McIntosh, Courtney 2, Wedgworth, Chaulsett-Utley. 3B — Raynor. HR — Miller (2), Gay 2 (3).