Sandpoint defeated in first game of Inland Empire playoff series against Moscow
Gavin Day tags out Moscow's Butch Kiblen at home plate in the top of the fifth inning on Monday.
Photo by Max Oswald
Drew Lehman makes a throw from his knees to first base for an out in the top of the first inning.
Austin Dillon awaits the signal from his catcher. Dillon pitched five innings against the Bears giving up six hits, one run, one walk, and striking out four batters.
Kody MacDonald makes a leaping grab to save a ball from going into the outfield on a Moscow stolen base attempt.
SANDPOINT – Sandpoint lost the first game of their playoff series against Moscow, 3-0 on Wednesday at War Memorial Field.
Moscow came away with two wins on Day 1 of the Inland Empire conference playoffs. The Bears beat Lakeland, 6-1 earlier in the day in order to stay alive and face Sandpoint in the nightcap.
The Bears got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning via a triple to deep right center by Jamison Green. Moscow was able to strike again in the sixth when Jack Driskill hit an RBI single to right field that scored two more runs, 3-0 Bears.
Sandpoint was limited to just three hits in the contest and were only able to move one runner into scoring position. Three seniors, Jack Zimmerman, Cody Newhart, and Kody MacDonald all had base hits for the Bulldogs.
Austin Dillon threw a quality start on the mound but was unfortunately tagged with the loss. Dillon went five innings giving up six hits, one run, one walk, and striking out four batters. In relief, Zimmerman pitched two innings giving up three hits, two walks, and two runs while striking out one.
For the Bears, it was Butch Kiblen who was rewarded with the win. Kiblen pitched seven innings giving up just three hits and striking out four batters.
The Bulldogs will travel to Moscow for Game 2 on Wednesday, May 10. Sandpoint must win in order to force a Game 3, which would be played at War Memorial Field on Friday, May 12.
MOSCOW 3, SANDPOINT 0
MOSCOW 000 010 2 – 3 9 0
SANDPOINT 000 000 0 – 0 3 1
HITS: SPT – Zimmerman, Newhart, MacDonald. MOS – Driskill 3, B. Kiblen 2, Isakson, Anderson, M. Kiblen, Green.
3B – Green, Isakson.
