CSN 5, CSI 2 Boxscore
CSI 12, NIC 9 Boxscore
CSI 6, Snow 2 Boxscore
CSI 9, CSN 4 Boxscore
SLCC 8, CSI 7 (8 innings) Boxscore
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - The College of Southern Idaho softball team fought all the way through the loser's bracket, twice forging seven-inning rallies to ultimately fall 8-7 in the Region 18 Championship to Salt Lake CC in extra innings.
The Golden Eagles lost their opening game to Southern Nevada 5-2 and looked like they would exit the tournament in game two. Trailing 9-2 in the seventh inning against North Idaho, CSI scored 10 runs on two outs in the bottom of the seventh to stay alive. The final tally came off a walk-off grand slam by
Kelsey Bryant.
CSI then beat Snow 6-2 and Southern Nevada 9-4 to get back to the region championship for the fifth straight year. The Golden Eagles have made the championship game every year of the team's existence.
CSI again appeared to be out of the game, trailing 4-1 with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. But a solo shot by
Alyana Watson, followed by singles by
Marie Williams,
Latieshia Webster and
Mikkel Griffin gave the Golden Eagles hope.
Marina Groenewegen stepped to the plate with the score 4-3 and two runners on. The sophomore third baseman drove an two-strike change up over the centerfield fence to put CSI up 6-4.
Salt Lake countered with two of its own in the bottom to extend the game to the eighth.
Nikki Brailsford led off the inning with a solo shot to put CSI up 7-6. But that would be all the Golden Eagles could score and Salt Lake scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth to win the championship.
CSI finished the season 44-19 overall and 33-11 in conference play.
Mikkel Griffin,
Marina Groenewegen and
Kelsey Bryant all were named to the Region 18 all-tournament team.
