Baldree strikes out 20 as Bulldogs sweep Bears
—Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY Senior Danika Moore squares up a pitch on Monday.
SANDPOINT — The Bulldogs handed the ball to their ace to open league play, and Bri Baldree didn't disappoint, tossing a five hitter and striking out 14 batters to lead Sandpoint to a 7-3 win in the opener of a doubleheader sweep in 4A Inland Empire League softball action at Sandpoint Middle School on Monday.
Baldree also scored twice, Danika Moore drove in two runs, and Sierra Nicholson, Bri Barlow and Kaitlan Ward each tallied two hits to lead the offense for the surging Bulldogs (7-3, 2-0 4A IEL), who backed their pitcher with solid defense all day.
“She is on fire,” said Bulldogs head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams of Baldree, who hit double digits in strikeouts for the fifth time this season. “She mixes it up around the plate, uses all her pitches and keeps them guessing the whole game.”
Baldree also picked up the win in the second game, providing her own run support with four hits, including a triple, while striking out six. Barlow continues to be a factor on the bases, scoring three runs on the day and setting the table for an increasingly dangerous lineup with few holes.
Nicholson continues to swing a hot bat, lacing a double and scoring twice, Sam Holland scored twice, Ward drove in two and scored two, Cody Baldree scored twice and Cheri-Lyn Darrah had two steals as the Bulldogs plated five first inning runs and never looked back.
One of the defensive highlights was a 1-6-3 double play, as Bri Baldree fielded a comebacker, hit the shortstop Barlow who fired to Cody Baldree at first for the second out.
“That double play is hard to do in softball,” said Hawkins-Williams. “We got the bats going in the second game.”
Sandpoint is at 5A power Lake City on Thursday.
n Game 1
Moscow 000 0003 — 3 5 2
Sandpoint 321 010X — 7 8 2
Bri Baldree and Sam Holland. W — Baldree.
Spt hits: B. Baldree, Barlow 2, Nicholson 2, Moore, Ward 2, Holland. 2B — Nicholson.
n Game 2
Moscow 000 120 — 3 4 6
Sandpoint 521 311 — 13 14 2
Baldree and Holland. W — Baldree.
Spt hits: B. Baldree 4, Barlow 2, Ward 2, Nicholson 2, C. Baldree, Crabb 2, Holland. 2B — Nicholson. 3B — B. Baldree.