College softball: CC Spokane, North Idaho knocked out at NWAC Championships

North Idaho College and Community Colleges of Spokane were both eliminated Saturday during the second day of the Northwest Athletic Conference Softball Championships at Delta Park in Portland.

NIC (35-13) opened with a five-inning, 17-0 win over Walla Walla (29-20) before being knocked out with a 9-5 setback against Lower Columbia (33-13).

CC Spokane finished 29-20 after dropping a 6-4 game against Wenatchee Valley (26-19).

Katie Barron hit three homers and drove in seven runs during NIC’s win. She was also the winning pitcher, allowing four hits in four innings, striking out six and walking none.

Mariah Mendez homered and had three RBIs to lead Lower Columbia past NIC.

CCS tied Wenatchee Valley at 4 in the fifth on Makenzie Norwill’s three run homer, but the Knights’ Allie Kopczynski had a two-out, two-run single in the seventh.

Mt. Hood (36-8) and Douglas (28-6) advanced to the championship round. The four other remaining teams had their play suspended by rain.

NCAA regional

Washington 5, Minnesota 2: Taylor Van Zee’s three-run double in the sixth lifted the Huskies (38-13) into the championship round with a victory over the Golden Gophers (42-13) at Husky Stadium.

Van Zee, who finished 3 for 4, scored on Kimberlee Souza’s single after the bases-clearing double.

The Huskies will meet Saturday’s surviving team at noon Sunday, with two chances to win and advance to Thursday’s Super Regionals.