Bulldogs rip five home runs

BOISE — Led by a long ball power surge, the Sandpoint softball team split the final two games of the Idaho Sporting Goods tournament in Boise on Saturday, concluding a winning road trip that featured plenty of offensive pyrotechnics.

Rachel Hammack, Maggie Kirscher and Jeri St. Sauver each went deep in an 11-3 win over 4A Nampa, and Molly Givens and Kirscher combined on a three hitter. Givens struck out seven in four sharp innings of work to run her record on the season to 2-2.

Hammack and Kirscher hit back-to-back home runs in the second inning, their second bombs of the day, in an 11-6 loss to 4A Skyview in the second game. The Bulldogs (3-5) put up crooked numbers all tournament, scoring a whopping 55 runs in five games and finishing a respectable 3-2.

A host of Bulldogs put up big offensive numbers, led by Kirscher, who finished the tourney 11-17 with two home runs, three doubles and 11 RBIs. Hammack, who was playing on an injured ankle, finished 9-18, with two homers, six RBIs and 10 runs scored, and Givens finished 10-18 with seven RBIs, while logging the most innings on the mound.

Even the bottom of the Bulldogs’ batting order was producing, as Jeri St. Sauver went 6-14, with a homer and six RBIs.

“The bright side was obviously the hitting,” said head coach Derek Dickinson, noting his team committed more than 20 errors. “We must get that fixed if we are to have success in league play.”

Dickinson had to leave Boise early, flying home before the final game to be with his wife, who gave birth to Colton James, the couple’s third child.

Sandpoint hosts 4A North rival Moscow on Wednesday, in a home-opening doubleheader at 4 p.m. at Travers Park. The game was originally scheduled for today, but was moved due to inclement weather.

GAME 1

Sandpoint  322 220 0 — 11   9   1

Nampa      003 000 0 — 3    3    6

Molly Givens, Maggie Kirscher (5) and Meghan Hamilton. W — Givens (2-2). HITS: Spt — Hammack 2, Kirscher 4, St. Sauver 3. 2B — St. Sauver. HR — Hammack, Kirscher, St. Sauver.

GAME 2

Sandpoint  140 001 0 — 6   11   4

Skyview    401 312 X — 11   9   1

Kym DaVault and Hamilton. L — DaVault (1-2). HITS: Spt — Hamilton, Hammack 2, Kirscher 3, Givens 2, DaVault, Elsfelder, St. Sauver. 2B — Kirscher, DaVault. HR — Hammack, Kirscher.