Moscow sweeps Bulldogs

SANDPOINT — Senior Ryan Schwartz registered a quality start for Sandpoint, but it wasn’t enough, as Moscow posted a big inning in both games of a 4A North baseball doubleheader sweep on Saturday at Pine St. Field.

Schwartz kept the Bulldogs (1-3, 0-3 4A IEL) in the game in the nightcap, striking out eight in six-plus innings of work. Sandpoint trailed 4-3 heading into the final inning, before the Bears (3-4, 3-1 4A IEL) broke the game open with a five run seventh. Bulldog head coach Chris Young’s team just recently began practicing outside, and is still rounding into mid-season form after three straight league losses.

“We’re still catching up with our pitching right now,” said Young, lauding the performance of Schwartz. “Ryan pitched phenomenal in the second game. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Caleb Nishimoto and Justin Orr had the only two hits for Sandpoint in game two.

Nishimoto was sharp on the mound early in the first game, and Jackson Olin had a stolen base and scored a run as the Bulldogs built a 3-2 lead after three innings. But things turned south in a hurry for the Bulldogs.

Led by the hot bat of Hunter Redinger, who had a home run and double among his four hits, the Bears would blow the game open with nine runs in the fourth and five more in the fifth, ending the game after five innings.

Sandpoint will rest today before a doubleheader on Monday in Post Falls.

Game 1

Moscow    101    95    —    16    15    2

Sandpoint    102    00    —    3    3    1

Tanner Morgan, Nick Ellison (5) and Jarod Paul; Caleb Nishimoto, Jackson Olin (4) and Justin Orr. W — Morgan. L — Nishimoto (1-1).

HITS: Mos — Morgan, Redinger 4, Johnson, Paul 3, O’Sullivan 3, Wear, K. Martin, A. Martin. Spt — Nitcy, Olin, Nishimoto. 2B — Nishimoto, O’Sullivan, Johnson, Redinger. HR — Redinger.

Game 2

Moscow    001    111    5    —    9    10    1

Sandpoint    003    000    0    —    3    2    5

Nick Ellison, Nolan Johnson (2) and Paul; Ryan Schwartz, Chase Rodriguez (7) and Justin Orr. W — Johnson. L — Schwartz (0-1).

HITS: Mos — Morgan 3, Redinger 2, Johnson, Paul, K. Martin 2, A. Martin. Spt — Nishimoto, Orr. 2B — Morgan. 3B — Johnson.