NIC SOFTBALL: Cardinals clinch berth to Region 18 tourney with split

HELPER, Utah — Sophomore Faith Nichols hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning, then had a two-run triple in the seventh for North Idaho College in a 14-3 win over Utah State-Eastern in the first game of a Scenic West Athletic Conference doubleheader at Heritage Field on Saturday. 

With the win, NIC (18-24, 10-18 SWAC) clinched a berth to the four-team Region 18 Championship May 6-7 in Twin Falls. Fifth-place Utah State-Eastern (9-28, 5-23) won the second game 6-5. 

Sophomore Corine Doran had a three-run double in the seventh to back sophomore Kristine Schmidt, who allowed four hits in a complete-game win for NIC. 

In the second game, Emma Wirt singled to score Alli Drake with two outs in the seventh for NIC, but the Cardinals stranded the tying run at third base. 

Madi Shama hit a three-run home run for Utah State-Eastern in the second game. 

NIC hosts No. 25 Salt Lake to conclude the regular season at Memorial Field in doubleheaders Friday and Saturday.

FIRST GAME 

North Idaho        402    100    7    —    14    15    3 

Utah State-Eastern    000    001    2    —    3    4    4 

Kristine Schmidt and Corine Doran; Allie Fowler, Addy Hess (1), Katelyn Johnson (7) and Maddie Jensen. 

HITS: NIC — Hanchey 2, Wirt, Doran 2, Larney 2, Nichols 2, Drake 2, Grooters, Ramirez, Yamaguchi 2. USUE — Spight 2, Sandavol, Shama. 2B — Doran, Sandavol. 3B — Nichols, Spight, Shama. HR — Wirt, Nichols. 

SECOND GAME 

North Idaho        301    000    1    —    5    10    1 

Utah State-Eastern    303    000    x    —    6    8    4 

Lily McNett, Maliyah Mann (3) and Corine Doran; Katelyn Johnson and Angie Romero. 

HITS: NIC — Brockman 2, Hanchey, Doran 2, Larney 2, Drake, Nichols, Wirt. USUE — Sandavol 2, Spight 2, Shama, Zajac 2, Quinn. 2B — Doran 2. 3B — Zajac 2. HR — Shama.