BONNERS FERRY — It’s common for doubleheaders to be split. It’s even common for them to end due to a 10-run rule. But for a doubleheader to be split with both games ending due to the 10-run rule is a pretty rare feat.

The Spartans fell to the Badgers in Game One, 27-17. They came back and defeated Bonners Ferry in a shootout 32-23.

“It was great and they were happy,” Priest River softball coach Ron Kruse said following the Spartans first win of the season. “They’re always so upbeat and if anyone does anything it’s pure excitement.”

Bonners Ferry began to pour it on in Game One, scoring 13 runs in the bottom of the first inning.

After a scoreless inning from the Spartans, the Badgers added seven runs to their lead, 20-1.

It wasn’t until the top of the third when Priest River started to get going. It scored nine runs during the top of the inning to cut Bonner’s lead to 10.

“We had five or six errors in the first inning,” Kruse said. “Other than that, we were right there with them the whole time.”

In Game 2, Bonners Ferry held the 8-4 advantage. Priest River then opened up the floodgates in innings four and five, scoring 28 runs.

“We hit the ball and took our walks,” Kruse said. “We ran the bases well and were able to go up by 20 runs.”

In the bottom of the sixth, the Spartans held a 32-17 advantage. The Badgers then went on a rally to cut the lead to 32-23 before the game was ultimately called.

“We had a lot of errors in that game,” Kruse said. “It kind of piled on us late, but it didn’t affect us like it did in the past; we worked around it.”

The Spartans improve to 1-5 overall and 1-0 in Intermountain League play. Priest River will next play Timberlake in a doubleheader at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 16.

GAME ONE

PRIEST RIVER 109 52 — 17 9 9

BONNERS FERRY (13)72 32 — 27 7 1

Jaylein Zylstra, Brodie Hansen (2), and Ona Rose. J. Curtis and S. Rickter.

HITS — PR: Thompson, Hansen 2, Zylstra 2, Kingery 3, Rosa. BF: Fredrickson 2, Owens, Sumpter, Pruit, Fodge, Curtis. 2B — Hansen, Kingery, Pruit.

GAME TWO

PRIEST RIVER 40(10) (18) 00 — 32 9 8

BONNERS FERRY 143 366 — 23 7 3

Zylstra and Brodie Hansen. S. Rickter, C. Pruit (3), J. Curtis (3), and C. Pruit.

HITS — PR: Thompson, Hansen 2, O. Rose, Zylstra, M. Rose, Kingery, Kreager, Rosa. BF — Frederickson, Owens, Pruit 2, Curtis, Rickter, Falck.