NIC SOFTBALL: Hatch, Roberts power Cardinals in opener in Utah

HELPER, Utah — Freshman Elizabeth Hatch hit a two-run double in the first inning and freshman Aspen Roberts hit a two-run home run in the third inning as North Idaho College defeated the Utah State-Eastern Eagles 8-5 in the first game of a Scenic West Athletic Conference doubleheader at Heritage Field on Friday. 

Utah State-Eastern scored the go-ahead run on an RBI groundout in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 4-3 win for the split. 

Roberts, from Riverton, Utah, scored two runs for NIC, which led 8-2 after four innings in the first game. 

In the second game, freshman Nevaeh McClaran of Mountain View High in Meridian hit a solo home run in the first inning, and sophomore Charlie Stern of Mead High hit a solo shot in the third for the Cardinals. 

NIC (10-17, 3-3 SWAC) and Utah State-Eastern (9-11, 2-6) play another doubleheader today in Helper.

FIRST GAME 

North Idaho    402    200    0    —    8    12    3 

USU-Eastern    101    030    0    —    5    10    1 

Makenna Webber, Lilly McNett (5) and Chloe Hearrell; Keyana Murray, Sadie Parson (3) and Maddie Jensen.  

HITS: NIC — Parry, Drake 2, McClaran, Roberts 2, Hearrell 3, Hatch 2, Hanchey. USUE — Hardman 3, Quinn, Spight 2, Hadzialijagic  2, Jensen, Fowler. 2B — Drake 2, Hatch, Hadzialijagic 2. 3B — Hanchey. HR — Roberts, Spight. 

SECOND GAME 

North Idaho    101    001    0    —    3    8    1 

U.S.-Eastern    002    011    x    —    4    9    1 

Maelynn Durham, Lilly McNett (6) and Chloe Hearrell; Charlotte Turner, Allie Fowler (7) and Maddie Jensen. 

HITS: NIC — Parry, McClaran 2, Drake, Stern 2, Hearrell, Hatch. USUE — Hardman, Zajac 3, Quinn, Everts, Hadzialijagic, Fowler, Wright. 2B — Fowler. HR — McClaran, Stern, Zajac.