Softball falls short of nationals
Season finale brings heart-breaking loss to rival Golden Eagles
Kalyn Lovlyn
Issue date: 5/11/09 Section: Sports
Thursday marked a disappointing moment for the Cardinal softball season in a difficult 7-6 loss to the College of Southern Idaho Thursday at the Region 18 Tournament held in Salt Lake City. The loss knocked NIC out of the running for the championship.
NIC entered the tournament ranked third with an overall record 47-23. Salt Lake Community College and CSI were first and second respectively.
The Cards had a two-point lead at the top of the seventh inning, but CSI managed to score three runs at the bottom of the seventh for the win.
Lauren Maloney was two for three, scoring three times with two RBIs. Briggett Plenger was one for one with two walks, a sacrifice and an RBI. Brandi Christopher was three for four, and Amanda Krier was two for four, both with RBIs.
The loss was difficult for the Cardinals.
"Of course we were disappointed," said head coach Don Don Williams. "It was a great game."
Coming into the tournament the Cardinals had met CSI eight times, winning four.
The loss followed a 16-3, five-inning victory over the College of Western Nevada in the first round. A homerun from Bri Harbour scored three of the Card's four points in the first inning. Maloney and Renae Kimbell each added another homerun while Nina Gonzalez pitched all five innings with four strikeouts.
Following the CSI game the Cardinals lost 4-1 Friday to fifth-ranked Snow College.
Five Lady Cards made All-Region Team selections. Maloney, Kimbell and Jessica Fagan made the All-Region first team, and Krier and Wailana Buchanan both qualified for the All-Region second team.
Maloney and Kimbell were also nominated to the All-Tournament Region 18 team.
Prior to the tournament, the Cards split four weekend games May 1-2 with SLCC, breaking the Bruins' 31-game-winning streak. The first two games Friday went two extra innings. The first game went to nine innings, and the Cards lost 7-4. However, they rallied for 10 innings in the second game to win 6-5.
On Saturday, the Cards also split the doubleheader, losing the first 5-1 but taking the second 7-4.
"It was a good season," Williams said. "We were expecting to win the regional championship, but overall we had a good season."
NIC entered the tournament ranked third with an overall record 47-23. Salt Lake Community College and CSI were first and second respectively.
The Cards had a two-point lead at the top of the seventh inning, but CSI managed to score three runs at the bottom of the seventh for the win.
Lauren Maloney was two for three, scoring three times with two RBIs. Briggett Plenger was one for one with two walks, a sacrifice and an RBI. Brandi Christopher was three for four, and Amanda Krier was two for four, both with RBIs.
The loss was difficult for the Cardinals.
"Of course we were disappointed," said head coach Don Don Williams. "It was a great game."
Coming into the tournament the Cardinals had met CSI eight times, winning four.
The loss followed a 16-3, five-inning victory over the College of Western Nevada in the first round. A homerun from Bri Harbour scored three of the Card's four points in the first inning. Maloney and Renae Kimbell each added another homerun while Nina Gonzalez pitched all five innings with four strikeouts.
Following the CSI game the Cardinals lost 4-1 Friday to fifth-ranked Snow College.
Five Lady Cards made All-Region Team selections. Maloney, Kimbell and Jessica Fagan made the All-Region first team, and Krier and Wailana Buchanan both qualified for the All-Region second team.
Maloney and Kimbell were also nominated to the All-Tournament Region 18 team.
Prior to the tournament, the Cards split four weekend games May 1-2 with SLCC, breaking the Bruins' 31-game-winning streak. The first two games Friday went two extra innings. The first game went to nine innings, and the Cards lost 7-4. However, they rallied for 10 innings in the second game to win 6-5.
On Saturday, the Cards also split the doubleheader, losing the first 5-1 but taking the second 7-4.
"It was a good season," Williams said. "We were expecting to win the regional championship, but overall we had a good season."
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