NIC SOFTBALL: Cardinals drop two at Salt Lake

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah — The race for the Region 18 Tournament got a little more crowded on Friday afternoon. 

North Idaho College (15-34, 7-19 SWAC) remained one game behind third-place Utah State-Eastern (15-23, 8-18) with six games remaining after the Cardinals were swept 10-0 and 10-2 by 17th ranked Salt Lake (32-10, 25-5) on Friday at Norma Carr Field. 

Snow (13-30, 7-21) is idle this weekend and finishes the season with four home games against Utah State-Eastern at home next Friday and Saturday in Ephraim, Utah. 

The top four teams advance to the Region 18 Tournament at the conference champion starting on May 12. 

NIC concludes the regular season with four games at Southern Idaho (32-11, 21-5), which is ranked 21st in the latest NJCAA poll, next Friday and Saturday. 

NIC and Salt Lake play another doubleheader today in Taylorsville.

FIRST GAME 

North Idaho    000    00    —    0    3    3 

Salt Lake    023    5x    —    10    9    2 

Game called in 5th inning due to 8-run rule. 

Maelynn Durham and Chloe Hearrell; Brecka Larson and Lafiana Fifita. 

HITS: NIC — Roberts, Hanchey, Stern. SLCC — Painter, Prathan 2, Medina 3, Harker 2, Schneider. 2B — Medina. HR — Medina. 

SECOND GAME 

North Idaho    000    110    —    2    5    3 

Salt Lake    102    016    —    10    9    0 

Game called with two outs in bottom of 6th inning due to 8-run rule. 

Lilly McNett and Chloe Hearrell; Elliott Plewe and Lafiana Fifita. 

HITS: NIC — Parry, Brockman, Stern 2, Madsen. SLCC — Reynen, Painter 2, Palmatier 2, Prathan 2, Ioane, Schneider. 2B — Prathan. 3B — Painter. HR — Brockman, Prathan.