Coeur d'Alene hangs on at Sandpoint

SANDPOINT — The Coeur d'Alene Vikings escaped Sandpoint with an 11-9 Inland Empire League victory Friday at Memorial Field.

Trailing the Bulldogs by a run after five innings, Coeur d'Alene got hot in the sixth when a three-run home run by first baseman Mike Estrada and a two-run triple by center fielder Jake Hall led the Vikings (2-0 IEL, 7-1) in an eight-run rally.

After the Vikings tacked on another run for good measure, Sandpoint faced an 11-3 deficit heading into the bottom of the seventh.

Spurred by Ryan Argabrite's two-run double down the right field line, the Bulldogs (2-4, 2-5) managed to string together a six-run rally of their own. However, Coeur d'Alene reliever Daley Benson came in and stopped the bleeding with the tying run at the plate.

The Vikings committed seven errors, Sandpoint five.

Coeur d'Alene returns to action April 5 at Post Falls.

Coeur d'Alene 020 008 1 — 11 13 7

Sandpoint 021 000 6 — 9 9 5

Andy Seaman, Alex Reyes (4), Jake Hall (7), Daley Benson (7) and Travis Georgius; Tyler Lichty, Vincent D'Orazi (5), Zach Manor (6) and Jake Howell. W — Reyes. L — D'Orazi. S — Benson.

HITS: Cd'A — Lyons, Hall 2, Georgius 2, Winter 2, Estrada 2, Duman 2, Wadsworth 2. Spt — Klontz, Howell 2, Poelstra 2, Wolfe, Argabrite, Manor 2. 2B — Georgius, Wadsworth, Argabrite, Manor. 3B — Hall. HR — Estrada.

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