Tough fourth inning dooms Bulldogs in playoff opener

RATHDRUM — Things started well for the Bulldogs in the opener of the 4A Region 1 softball tournament, but Moscow would explode for 12 runs in the fourth inning en route to a 14-3 win over Sandpoint on Tuesday in the opener at Lakeland High School.

Casey Bottomley worked out of a couple bases loaded jams early on as the No. 3 seed Bulldogs (3-15) trailed just 2-0 heading into the fourth inning. Bulldogs head coach Derek Dickinson felt his team came out with some intensity, but momentum simply got away.

“Casey was pitching lights out and keeping us in the game, but in the fourth inning Moscow had five bloop hits and the wheels came off,” said Dickinson, noting the Bulldogs also committed four errors in the inning. “Hopefully we can bounce back on Thursday.”

Kircher had two hits and Jacey Lawson one for the Bulldogs, who scored all of their runs in the fifth inning.

The No. 2 seed Bears lost 9-3 to the top-seeded Hawks in the second game, meaning Sandpoint will now travel south to Moscow for the loser-out game on Thursday, with first pitch at 4 p.m.

Sandpoint  000      03 — 3   3   6

Moscow     101 (12)x — 14 11  1

Casey Bottomley, Maggie Kirscher (4) and Jessica Strickland; Gosse and Maxey. W — Gosse. L — Bottomley.

HITS: Spt — Kirscher 2, Lawson.