Editor's note: A player's name in this story has been correctly updated.

MOSCOW — Sandpoint softball kept its hopes alive for the No. 1 seed to the 4A Region 1 tournament next week.

The Bulldogs earned a doubleheader split at Moscow on Tuesday.

In the first game, the Bears grabbed a 9-5 win.

SHS tried to battle back in the top of the seventh inning, but two runs wasn't enough to complete the comeback.

Jaidyn Inman had two hits in the game and Riley Cessna, Cresanna Authier, Jacey Cash and Kalila Tuinstra each had one.

The bats came to life for the Bulldogs in the second game. SHS scored eight runs in the third inning to take a commanding 13-0 lead.

However, the Bears slowly chipped away at the advantage and pulled within four runs late.

The Bulldogs were able to weather the storm and secure a 16-12 victory.

"Today was a hard-fought battle for us," head coach Elizabeth Hawkins-Williams said. "Jaden Dickinson and Cresanna Authier both pitched very strong and were able to lift their team to a victory in the second game. Dickinson showed the leadership, grit and determination we really needed when she came in to close out the second game. She came out very aggressive and sharp, and was determined to win."

Sandpoint tallied 14 hits in the game. Authier and Lily Gammon each had three, and Via Barlow, Shelby Lanie and Inman each grabbed two.

"We were not as aggressive at the plate as we needed to be in the first game, so it was exciting to see us swing the bats so well in the second game," Hawkins-Williams said.

Authier hit a three-run homer in the second game.

"It was so exciting to see her finding success on the mound and at the plate today," Hawkins-Williams said.

Across the doubleheader, Kinzie Ward, Gammon and Cessna each scored four runs. Hawkins-Williams also said Cash played great at center field.

With the split, the Bulldogs currently sit at 3-3 in 4A Inland Empire League play. Lakeland is 5-1 in league play and SHS hosts the Hawks on Thursday to wrap up the regular season.

Sandpoint can force a tiebreaker for the No. 1 seed to regionals by sweeping Lakeland.

The doubleheader against the Hawks starts at 2 p.m. Thursday at War Memorial Field.

FIRST GAME

Sandpoint 200 010 2 — 5 6 4

Moscow 230 220 X — 9 7 1

Jaden Dickinson, Cresanna Authier (5) and Lily Gammon; Kees and Highfill.

HITS: SHS — Inman 2, Cessna, Authier, Cash, Tuinstra. M — Verlin 3, Fleischman 2, Smith, Branen. 2B — Fleischman. HR — Fleischman.

SECOND GAME

Sandpoint 418 101 1 — 16 14 5

Moscow 001 046 1 — 12 13 5

Cresanna Authier, Via Barlow (5), Authier (5), Jaden Dickinson (6) and Jaidyn Inman; Pouchnik, Elliss (3), Pouchnik (4) and Highfill.

HITS: SHS — Authier 3, Gammon 3, Barlow 2, Lanie 2, Inman 2, Cash, Ward. M — Fleishman 2, Highfill 3, Verlin 2, Smith 2, Pouchnik, Kess 2. 2B — Lanie 2, Verlin, Highfill. HR — Authier.