MOSCOW — After Sandpoint baseball missed out on a chance to grab the No. 1 seed to regionals last Thursday, head coach Chase Tigert mentioned how much his team thrives when their backs are against the wall.

That determination and refusal to quit was on full display Monday during the 4A Region 1 loser-out game against No. 3 seed Lakeland. Trailing 10-8 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, the Bulldogs were three outs away from seeing their season come to an end. But this team wasn't going to let that happen.

After Avery Bocksch walked and Ethan Butler smoked a double to left field, the Hawks decided to intentionally walk Cody Newhart to load the bases and pitch to Cameron Garcia. The senior made Lakeland regret that decision when he hit a bases-clearing triple to give Sandpoint an 11-10 walk-off victory.

"Cam came through with a huge hit," Tigert said.

The walk-off hit capped an amazing comeback by Sandpoint. The Bulldogs trailed 10-3 after the top of the sixth.

"I just love how this team believes," Tigert said, "and that's something that we talk about often is believing in yourself, believing in your teammates and believing in the purpose."

Tigert said his team's character shined through against the Hawks.

"They are an amazing group of kids and you just never know what to expect," he said. "They keep you on your toes in a good way."

With a win, SHS earned a spot in the best-of-3 4A Region 1 championship series against No. 1 seed Moscow and Game 1 was played immediately after the emotional win over Lakeland.

The Bulldogs poured everything they had into that loser-out game, so some might have expected a letdown against the Bears. But there was none of that.

After falling behind 2-0, SHS scored nine runs with two outs in the fourth inning to quiet the Moscow crowd. Auggie Lehman, Jack Zimmerman and Garcia all drove-in runs in the inning, while Bocksch hit a grand slam.

The breakout inning allowed closer Kody MacDonald to step on the mound in the final inning to seal the 9-3 Game 1 win.

By winning, Sandpoint (17-8) earned the right to host Game 2 of the series at 3 p.m. Wednesday at War Memorial Field. With a victory, the Bulldogs would secure a trip to state for the first time since 2018.

"I'm just really proud of their perseverance and their resiliency to battle back from a fairly rough week," Tigert said. "Last week was pretty tough on everybody and to come out today and not bury their heads in the sand and continue to fight was impressive."

Garcia went 2 for 3 with four RBIs in the game against Lakeland. In the bout with Moscow, Butler and Zimmerman both went 2 for 4 and Lehman had three hits and two RBIs.

At this point, nothing the Bulldogs do surprises Tigert. He's seen it all and the intensity of Monday's games may have taken some years off the young coach.

"I might have a few more gray hairs," he joked.

Tigert said the boys are ready to close the deal on Wednesday, but fans should prepare for another thriller.

"Moscow is a good team and they are well coached ... so I'm excited that we have the game at Memorial," he said, "and I feel confident and very good, and I believe we're going to be able to get it done. But it's going to be a fight."

Lakeland 023 005 0 — 10 12 5

Sandpoint 030 005 3 — 11 3 4

Harris, Pote (6), Wysong (7) and Hocking; Auggie Lehman, Zeke Roop (3), Blake Sherrill (6), Max Thielbahr (7) and Trevor Brackett.

HITS: LL — Pote 3, Nowell 3, Love 2, Hocking, Wysong, Strietzel, Pempertom. SHS — Garcia 2, Butler. 2B — Butler. 3B — Garcia.

Sandpoint 000 900 0 — 9 10 3

Moscow 101 100 0 — 3 6 3

Avery Bocksch, Max Thielbahr (5), Zeke Roop (6) and Kody MacDonald (7) and Trevor Brackett; Redinger, Kiblen (5), Stazkow (7) and Bales.

HITS: SHS — Lehman 3, Zimmerman 2, Butler 2, Bocksch, Newhart, Garcia. M — Kiblen 2, Redinger, Delusa, Abendroth, Isakson. 2B — Zimmerman, Butler, Kiblen. HR — Bocksch.