Big Bend softball sweeps North Idaho for first time in program history
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldBig Bend shorstop Pashence Korten lays out to stop a ball into the gap during the first game of Wednesday's NWAC East doubleheader with North Idaho College. The Vikings swept the Cardinals for the first time in program history.
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin HeraldBig Bend freshman Savajja Hughes is contradulated after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning of first game Wednesday against North Idaho College.
MOSES LAKE — Vikings Field proved to be the Pacific Northwest launching pad Wednesday afternoon when Big Bend swept North Idaho College for the first time in program history in a doubleheader that featured a combined eight home runs.
It’s a short porch here in Moses Lake, a field where the fences are just 200 feet all the way around. Since the fence is six-feet tall, it is regulation, but the long ball came into play. Big Bend freshman Savannah Hughes hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning to lead the Vikings to a 9-7 victory in the opener. All of the Cardinals runs came via the home run with two in the fifth and back-to-back home runs in seventh.
Morgan Goslin, a sophomore from The Dalles, Ore., stroked a 2-RBI home run in the first inning and Hailey Sandoval added a solo shot in the second and the Vikings (15-21, 12-16 NWAC East) stayed alive in the NWAC playoff race with a 6-5 win for the sweep over a team currently second in the standings.
“It means a lot to beat NIC. It’s the first time we’ve swept them since they joined the NWAC (in 2015) and I think they were a little upset about it,” Goslin said. “They expect to win when they come here and we showed them we can play. We’re making history this year.”
Ten years ago, North Idaho (27-13, 18-10 NWAC East) played for a National Junior College Athletic Association national championship, losing in extra innings in the 2007 title game. They have seen some success, but not Wednesday afternoon in the Columbia Basin where the Big Bend Vikings stepped up with the biggest sweep in their program history.
“We’re turning a lot heads this season and it’s been amazing,” Savannah Fleming said. “I think we’re changing the way people look at us. We have passion. You can teach somebody how to field a ground ball or teach them how to play. But you can’t teach passion and that’s something we have is a lot of heart for the game.”
Big Bend 6, NIC 5
The Vikings took the early lead with home runs by Goslin and Sandoval. But North Idaho chipped away and took its first lead in fourth when Natalie Schwab turned on a fastball and drove it over the right-center field fence for a solo shot. Ana Raynor doubled and scored on an RBI single by Mckenzie Schaller to give the Cardinals a 4-2 lead. The made it a three-run led with another score in the fifth with a pair of doubles.
“We’re definitely a team that never gets anything the easy way,” Fleming said. “But that’s where the heart and dedication comes from. We know that NIC is good team. They’re going to get home runs, and we know we have to hit the ball and play defense. It comes down to who wants it more and we put our heart into the game and won today.”
The Vikings opened the sixth inning with a single by Pashence Korten, a sophomore from Pocatello, Idaho, who was playing her final game at Vikings Field. Goslin drew a walk and Ember Armstrong drove in a run with an RBI single to cut into the lead. Fleming also drove in a run and Big Bend regain the lead, 6-5, scoring three runs with three hits.
“The kids played great and never gave up. It’s been like that all year and I’m just glad to be a part of it,” Viking coach Jeremy Iverson said. “They’re working hard and doing what it takes to improve. A lot of things have come together to get where we are.”
Big Bend 9, North Idaho 7
Armstrong went 3-for-4 and scored twice for the Vikings and Sierra Trejo and Hughes were 2-for-4. Big Bend is on the road at Treasure Valley on Saturday and wraps up the regular season at Blue Mountain CC on Sunday.