NIC SOFTBALL: Cardinals take three from CBC, improve win streak to 28 games

COEUR d’ALENE — North Idaho College was on Friday afternoon.

In the circle, at the plate.

All the things that need to go right for a team which has now won 28 straight games.

Kristine Schmidt, a freshman from Coeur d’Alene High, struck out nine in the first game and sophomore Kennedy Hobson fanned seven in the nightcap for the Cardinals, who swept the Columbia Basin Hawks of Pasco, Wash., 9-3 and 14-0 in a Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Memorial Field on Friday.

Just prior to the doubleheader, NIC picked up another win from a game which was suspended with the score tied 12-12 after eight innings due to darkness on March 22. On Friday, the Cardinals scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning for a 15-12 win. The three wins Friday boosted NIC to 34-2, 22-0 in NWAC play.

“Columbia Basin is a really aggressive offense,” NIC coach Shay Chapman said. “Our pitchers were just rolling and hitting their spots. Their offspeed pitches were great today and they just dominated. I’m super proud of them.”

NIC can clinch the East Region title with one win today against visiting Walla Walla, in a doubleheader scheduled for noon.

Sophomores Hayden Rockwell, Kani Korok, Summer Makinster and freshman Faith Nichols homered in the second game for NIC.

“Everyone was hitting the ball really well today,” Chapman said. “We passed the bat really well. We’re really firing on all cylinders right now, which we should be in May.”

Columbia Basin is 17-23, 5-17.

COMPLETION OF SUSPENDED GAME

North Idaho    040    002    503    —    15    18    2

Columbia Basin    240    200    400    —    12    11    4

Kennedy Hobson, Kristine Schmidt (9) and Summer Makinster, Corine Doran (9); S. Escalera and B. Waldren.

HITS: NIC — Hommel, Thomas, Korok 2, Doran 4, Rockwell 4, Vieira, Hobson 3. CBC — Blankenship, Bryson 2, Fraser, Krick, Duropan, Waldren, Christopher. 2B —Thomas, Rockwell 2, Vieira, Blankenship, Krick, Duropan, Christopher. HR — Korok, Doran, Rockwell, Hobson 2, Waldren.

FIRST GAME

Columbia Basin    000    210    0    —    3    4    2

North Idaho    020    330    x    —    9    12    1

S. Escalara and B. Waldron; Kristine Schmidt and Corine Doran.

HITS: CBC — Bryson, Krick, Shaffer, Christopher. NIC — Hobson, Korok 2, Doran 2, Vieira, Schulhauser, Nichols, Makinster 2, Thomas. 2B — Bryson, Korok, Nichols. HR — Krick, Shaffer, Hobson, Doran, Vieira.

SECOND GAME

Columbia Basin    000    00    —    0    3    4

North Idaho    130    (10)x    —    14    11    0

Game called in 5th inning due to 8-run rule.

S. Escalara and B. Waldron; Kennedy Hobson and Summer Makinster.

HITS: CBC — Bryson, Krick, Hausenbuiller. NIC — Rockwell, Korok, Doran, Vieira, Nichols, Schulhauser 3, Makinster, Thomas 2. 2B — Schulhauser. HR — Rockwell, Korok, Nichols, Makinster.

    KYLE DISHAW PHOTOGRAPHY North Idaho College softball coach Shay Chapman greets Summer Makinster after rounding third base following Makinster's two-run home run in the second game of a Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader against Columbia Basin at Memorial Field on Friday.