TWIN FALLS — Sandpoint baseball had every opportunity to close the deal on Thursday and open the 4A state tournament with a thrilling win over Bishop Kelly. But the Knights were able to secure four runs in the top of the ninth inning to secure an 8-5 extra innings victory over the Bulldogs.

Sandpoint (18-9) will now face Bonneville (14-14) in a consolation game at noon Friday.

The Bulldogs committed six errors against Bishop Kelly, and those mistakes ended up being the difference, head coach Chase Tigert said.

"In all honesty, it shouldn't have even gone nine innings," Tigert said. "That was our game ... and you take away just one of those errors, the game is over in six and half and we don't even have to go to extras."

All game, Sandpoint traded blows with the Knights, the No. 2 ranked team in 4A.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bulldogs tied the game at 4-4 when Mike Riley grounded out to bring home Ethan Butler.

The score remained the same until the ninth when Bishop Kelly jumped ahead by four runs on a couple of RBI doubles and a error by SHS.

The Bulldogs responded with one run in the bottom of the inning, but it wasn't enough to stay alive.

Despite the loss, Sandpoint proved a point by nearly topping one of the state title favorites.

"We talked after the game and we said, 'Look we're just not doing this for us, we're doing this for the north and to continue to fight for that respect,' " Tigert said.

Avery Bocksch started on the bump and allowed five hits and two earned runs over four innings. Evan Williams was on the mound the rest of way and struck out seven over five innings while surrendering four hits and three earned runs.

"I thought we did great on the mound," Tigert said. "Our two pitchers competed and did an amazing job."

Max Thielbahr, Auggie Lehman, Bocksch, Butler and Williams all recorded a hit in the game, and Bocksch drove in two runs.

In their last appearance at state in 2018, the Bulldogs went 0-2. Tigert doesn't see that happening this time around.

He said the team was obviously disappointed by the loss to the Knights, but they kept a positive attitude because the Bulldogs know they've closed the gap with the teams in southern Idaho. Tigert expects his team to give Bonneville everything they can handle on Friday.

"These kids are ready to fight," he said.

Bishop Kelly 200 020 004 — 8 9 3

Sandpoint 012 001 001 — 5 5 6

Colin Dempsey, Parker Seehawer (4) and Janes; Avery Bocksch, Evan Williams (5) and Trevor Brackett.

HITS: BK — Casagrande 3, Smith 2, Heffner, Janes, Snyder, McCarthy. SHS — Thielbahr, Bocksch, Butler, Lehman, Williams. 2B — Casagrande 3, Smith 2, Lehman.