SANDPOINT — Sandpoint’s Bailey Lancaster and Jess Wright both had three hits each for Bulldogs who fell just short of Thompson Falls, 8-7, at War Memorial Field on Friday afternoon.

After three frames, the Bulldogs led 2-0 after getting RBI singles from Cadence Skibitsky and Bailey Lancaster in the first and third innings, respectively. After giving up three runs in the top half of the fourth, Skibitsky hit another RBI single to give Sandpoint a 4-3 lead.

Down 6-4 entering the bottom of the sixth, Lancaster hit a two-run double to deep left field to tie the game. Later in the same inning, Sara Bryson would knock an RBI single to center, scoring Lancaster and helping the Bulldogs to a one-run lead.

In the seventh, Thompson Falls’ Olivia Fitchett hit a two-run triple to right field to put the Blue Hawks back in front, 8-7. Sandpoint could not respond in the bottom half of the inning, stranding Abi Miller, who singled in the opening at-bat.

Lancaster finished the contest 3-for-4 with two doubles, a single and three RBIs. Wright was 3-for-4 with three singles. Skibitsky and Kaylee McCown also notched two hits each for the Bulldogs.

On the mound, Sandpoint’s Ainsley Hull struck out eight batters across seven complete innings. Sarah Koskela struck out nine batters over four innings for Thompson Falls.

"Ainsley pitched well today and did not give up a walk, which was clutch," head coach Leah Platt said. "Peyton (Cessna) is always going to be a miss when she is not in our lineup, so are Emma (Kohal) and Haley (Smotherman), who were all away for spring break. Thompson Falls is a scrappy team and we matched well with them ... I just wish it went our way. Between the junior varsity and varsity we are really coming together as not just separate teams, but as a program."

Sandpoint (3-5) will travel to Lake City on Tuesday for a doubleheader.

Thompson Falls 000 312 2 – 8 8 1

Sandpoint 101 203 0 – 7 13 5

HITS: SPT – Lancaster 3, Wright 3, Skibitsky 2, McCown 2, Bryson 1, Miller 1, Hindle 1. TF – Traver 2, Cork 2, McGillis 1, Fairbank 1, Fitchett 1, Harnett 1.

2B – Lancaster 2, Traver 2, McCown 1, Cork 1. 3B – McGillis 1, Fitchett 1.

RBI: SPT – Lancaster 3, Skibitsky 2, Bryson 1. TF – Fitchett 3, Fairbank 2, Cork 1, McGillis 1, Traver 1.

SB: SPT – Skibitsky 2, Miller 1. TF – Cornett 1, Harnett 1.