COEUR d'ALENE - North Idaho College made a nice comeback attempt Friday at Lake City High.

But despite scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cardinals came up a bit short in a 5-2 loss to College of Southern Nevada, ranked No. 8 in the NJCAA, in the first game of a rain-delayed Scenic West Athletic Conference doubleheader that due to rain, was moved from Memorial Field to Lake City.

"It was a tough loss," NIC coach Don Don Williams said. "I thought that we didn't make good adjustments at the plate. We weren't attacking good pitches."

After Southern Nevada went up 5-0, NIC (21-17, 16-13 SWAC) went to work in the bottom of the sixth inning. Freshman Madison Anthony singled in Kylene Hatton, then scored on a double by freshman Hayley Fields.

"It was just an inside pitch and that's my favorite pitch," Fields said. "So I was just going to drive her in."

But Coyotes starting pitcher Aly Lamboo induced a groundout to short to end the threat.

Southern Nevada freshman designated player Lauren Lesniak wasted little time in setting the tone in the first game of a doubleheader.

With two outs in the top of the first inning, Lesniak turned on an inside pitch thrown by North Idaho College starting pitcher Tori Almos and drilled it over the left field fence for a 3-run home run.

"She got me on the outside corner on the first pitch (of the at-bat)," Lesniak said. "It was middle-in, so I really liked that pitch."

Lamboo of Southern Nevada (31-10, 24-9 SWAC) allowed six hits and both runs, striking out three and walking none. NIC made contact several times throughout the game, but the balls were hit right at fielders.

"We were hitting it hard, so it was right to them," Fields said. "We just needed to find a happy medium."

After this season, NIC is leaving the Scenic West Athletic Conference and starting in the 2014-15 school year, it will play in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.

"We're sad that they're leaving the SWAC and going to a weaker conference," Southern Nevada coach Callen Perreira said. "Their coach has done a great job with that program."

The teams tried to fit in a second game last Friday before darkness.

The teams have a doubleheader scheduled today beginning at noon at Memorial Field.

FIRST GAME

Southern Nevada 301 010 0 - 5 7 1

North Idaho 000 002 0 - 2 6 3

Ally Lamboo and Aimee Aipa; Tori Almos, Brittany Hecker (5) and Hayden Fields. W - Lamboo (11-5). L - Almos (4-7).

HITS: SN - Hensley 2, Manewa, Creswell, Lesniak, Aipa. NIC - Tarin, Hatton 2, Anthony, Hayd. Fields, Hayl. Fields. 2B - Hatton, Hayl. Fields. HR - Lesniak (2).