Henderson, Nev. - The College of Southern Idaho baseball team got a taste of Region 18 competition this past weekend without the games counting toward Scenic West Athletic Conference standings. The Golden Eagles lost to Western Nevada 12-0, Southern Nevada 2-0 and Colorado Northwestern 6-2 before beating Salt Lake 3-2 in their final game of the weekend.
Against Western Nevada, Nate Gardner and Cole Walters got the Eagles only two hits. Zack Draper earned the loss in four innings pitched, giving up six hits, two earned runs and striking out two.
The Golden Eagles matchup with Southern Nevada was a pitching duel. Makay Nelson pitched seven innings for CSI in the loss, giving up just six hits and two earned runs with 10 strikeouts. But it wasn't enough as CSI was able to muster just three hits. Cody Schmidt went 1-for-2 with one walk and Harrison Ramey was 1-for-3 at the plate.
CSI played a close one against Colorado Northwestern with Mike Ortega going 2-for-3 at the plate. Mason Hilty earned the loss on the mound, going five innings and giving up seven hits and four earned runs with three strikeouts.
The Golden Eagles got a solid performance out of Parker Loutensock on the mound against Salt Lake, while Nate Gardner went 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a walk to help CSI get past the Bruins.
Loutensock pitched five innings for the win, giving up just three hits and no runs with three strikeouts. Damen Jones went three innings, giving up two runs with three strikeouts. Tyler Burdett earned the save, pitching one innings and giving up no hits and no runs.
The Golden Eagles, 8-4 overall, open up conference play Thursday in Carson City, Nev. against Western Nevada College.