Williams drives in seven as Cardinals win opener en route to split in Fuson's debut as coach

LEESBURG, Fla. — Sophomore Sarah Williams hit two home runs and drove in seven runs as North Idaho College defeated Lake Sumter State 14-13 on Friday in the first game of the Cardinals’ season-opening doubleheader.

Lake Sumter State won the nightcap 12-4.

Williams hit a two-run homer in the fourth inning in the opener, and a grand slam in the sixth to put NIC up 14-4.

Lake Sumter State pulled within a run in the bottom of the seventh, and put two on with one out, but NIC reliever Andrea Hedington retired the final two batters, getting the last batter on a strikeout.

Makayla Marshall also homered for NIC, and Grace Shimatsu went 2 for 5 with two runs and three RBIs.

In the second game Emma Gray, a freshman from Lake City High, hit a two-run homer in the first inning in her first at-bat for the Cardinals. Olivia Cook hit a solo homer in the fourth.

The games marked the debut of Shay (Craig) Fuson as NIC head coach. The former Cardinal player and assistant coach took over this season for Don Don Williams, who started the program in 1998 and coached NIC for 22 seasons before taking the head coaching job at NCAA Division I Southern Utah.

NIC is scheduled to play Mercyhurst North East (Pa.) and Muskegon (Mich.) Community College today in Clermont, Fla.

FIRST GAME

North Idaho 130 316 0 — 14 17 2

L. Sumter St. 202 007 2 — 13 14 2

Andrea Hoey, Andrea Hedington (7) and Hannah Click; Grinbrod, Gill (4), Chestnut (6) and Woolums. W — Hoey (1-0). L — Grinbod.

HITS: NIC — Marshall 2, Escalante 2, Williams 2, Hecker 2, Cook 2, Click 2, Hammond 2, Batoon, Shimatsu 2. LSS — Bryant 2, Allen 2, Woolums 3, Aviles 2, Smith 3, Shirley, Quinby. 2B — Cook, Click, Batoon, Shimatsu. HR — Marshall, Williams 2, Cook.

SECOND GAME

North Idaho 200 20 — 4 5 2

Lake Sumter St. 412 41 — 12 14 0

Game called in fifth inning due to 8-run rule.

Andrea Hedington, Andrea Hoey (4) and Hannah Click; Reichardt and Sims. W — Reichardt. L — Hedington (0-1).

HITS: NIC — Marshall, Gray, Cook, Click 2. LSS — Kowitz, Bryant 3, Allen 2, Woolums 2, Aviles 3, Smith, Shirley 2. 2B — Marshall, Click. HR — Gray, Cook.