NIC SOFTBALL: Cardinals rally in opener, then sweep Wenatchee Valley

WENATCHEE, Wash. — Freshman Faith Nichols hit a two-run double to give visiting North Idaho College the lead for good in the top of the seventh inning as the Cardinals rallied past the Wenatchee Valley Knights 5-3 in the first game of a Northwest Athletic Conference twinbill on Friday.

With NIC trailing 3-2 in the top of the seventh, Nichols doubled to score Emily Schulhauser and Kaylee Vieira to give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead.

Kristine Schmidt, a freshman from Coeur d’Alene High, struck out seven in the opener for NIC (38-2, 26-0 NWAC), which has won 30 straight games.

In the nightcap, the Cardinals scored five runs in the first inning en route to a 12-1 win to get the sweep.

Sophomore Hayden Rockwell hit a solo home run in the fifth inning, and sophomores Kani Korok and Karli Kostoff drove in two runs each in the second game for NIC, which concludes the regular season today with a doubleheader at Yakima Valley starting at noon.

Wenatchee Valley, which is second in the East Region, is 28-12, 18-8. 

FIRST GAME

North Idaho    000    010    4    —    5    7    1

Wen. Valley    300    000    0    —    3    6    1

Kristine Schmidt and Summer Makinster; Alix Bishop and Kaya Enriquez.

HITS: NIC — Hobson, Rockwell, Doran, Vieira, Schulhauser 2, Nichols. WVCC — A. Bishop 2, Smit 2, Marchand, E. Bishop. 2B — Doran, Vieira, Schulhauser, Nichols, E. Bishop.

SECOND GAME

North Idaho    513    21    —    12    7    0

Wen. Valley    100    00    —    1    5    4

Game called after 5 innings due to 8-run rule.

Kennedy Hobson, Jaylyn Christensen (4) and Corine Doran; Brynn Ready, Aaliyah Marchand (3) and Sophie Berning.

HITS: NIC — Rockwell, Korok, Doran, Schulhauser 2, Kostoff, Thomas. WVCC — Smit 2, Marchand, Enriquez, Berning. 2B — Korok, Schulhauser. HR — Rockwell.