Nic Gets One Back, Wins 9-7

The North Idaho College baseball team turned the tide Saturday against the College of Southern Idaho.

Still stinging from two lopsided losses to the Eagles on Friday, the Cardinals The result was encouraging for NIC coach Jack Bloxom and his young team.The Cardinals pounded out 10 hits -

nine of them singles - en route to a 9-7 Region 18 North Division win before about 100 fans at NIC.

Sophomore right-fielder Jerud Martin did most of the offensive damage for the Cardinals, going 3 for 5 with three RBIs.

“I just saw the ball well today and as a team, we just came out ready to play today,” Martin said.

CSI had won six consecutive games and nine of its last 10, and came in a half-game ahead of Ricks atop the Region 18 standings. The loss dropped the Eagles to 6-3 in league and 25-18 overall.

The Cardinals, who had lost four of their last five, raised their records to 4-5 and 14-17.

The Cardinals scored two runs in the first off CSI starter Bryan Gallager on RBI singles by Jerud Martin and Evan Metz.

The Cardinals opened a 4-0 lead in the second after the bottom third of their order - Ryan Tarasoff, Jason Bartell, and Cory Sandow - led off with singles.

Then reliever Tony Domino held NIC scoreless until the fifth.

The Cardinals were getting an equally impressive pitching performance out of Jason Bowles.

The sophomore right-hander limited CSI to one run on just three hits through five innings. At one point, Bowles (4-2) retired seven in a row. He was seldom behind in the count.

Bowles seemed to tire, however, and the Eagles battled to a 5-5 tie in the seventh on the strength of two walks and a two-run error by NIC shortstop Jason Bartell.

But NIC responded with three runs in its half off the inning off reliever Rob Vael. Vael walked the bases loaded with two outs.

Highland, normally very steady defensively, let the ball get through him, allowing two runs to score.To compound matters, Highland then threw wildly to third, allowing NIC’s Mark Collins to score as well, giving the Cardinals an 8-5 lead.CSI closed an 8-5 gap to 8-7 in

the eighth. A one-out single by Eagles shortstop Tony Pezely and consecutive walks to Brandon Duckworth and Josh Hegstad loaded the bases and chased Bowles. Pinch-hitter Chris Starbuck then greeted reliever Jordan Opdahl with a two-run single.

With the potential tying and

winning runs on base, however, Opdahl got CSI catcher Ian Ormsby to fly out and struck out leadoff hitter Mike Gonzales to end the threat.

NIC added a run in the bottom of the inning.

“Jordan came in and pitched

well,” NIC coach Jack Bloxom said. “He came in and threw strikes and did the job.”

Bowles went seven-plus innings for the Cardinals, striking out eight and walking seven in picking up the win.

“Bowles pitched very well today,” Bloxom said. “He kept the ball down well and got it up when he wanted it up. We got in trouble when we didn’t make the plays behind him defensively.”Vael, one of five Eagle pitchers

on the day, took the loss.

Vael had dominated the Cardinals in a relief appearance Friday. But he didn’t fare as well Saturday, walking four Cardinals while striking out just one.

“Their kid (Bowles) did a great job on the mound, but what I’m disappointed with is that we broke down defensively,” Walker said. “We gave up three runs after we had battled back to tie it.”The loss isn’t a killer for us. What I want to know is how we’re going to react to it.”The Eagles will get a chance to find out when they travel to Treasure Valley next weekend for a three-game series.NIC is on the road next week end, beginning a three-game series with Ricks College Friday.

CSI 000 102 220 - 7 6 3 NIC 220 010 31x - 9 10 2

Gallager, Domino (2), Vael (5), Young (7), Stinson (8), and Ormsby. Bowles, Opdahl (8) and Metz. W-Bowles (4-2). L-Vael (4-3). S-Opdahl (1).

Hits: CSIHighland 2, Davis 2, Pezely, Starbuck. NICMort, Martin 3, Metz, Tarasoff 2, Bartell, Sandow 2. 2B-Highland, Sandow.