TWIN FALLS - The 18th-ranked College of Southern Idaho Softball team earned an 8-2 win in the opener against Western Nevada Friday before needing a walk-off error in game two by the Wildcats to plate the winning run in the eighth inning to beat WNC 6-5.
The Golden Eagles knocked out 10 hits in game one behind Madi Ford, who was 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and Abby Toller, who was 2-for-3 with 4 RBI and a home run. Kelsey Christensen earned the win in the circle, giving up one earned run on five hits with two strikeouts.
Game two would not be that easy for the Eagles.
After taking what seemed to be a comfortable 5-2 into the top of the sixth, the Golden Eagles gave up one run in the sixth and two in the seventh to send the game into extra innings.
One Western Nevada hitter reached base on an error in the top of the 7th but CSI pitcher CheyAnne Dahl got the next three hitters in order to set up the final rally.
Savannah Kirkpatrick led off the bottom of the eighth with a double. Cassidy Basinger followed with a single to right field but Sarah Phillips, who was pinch running for Kirkpatrick, was thrown out at the plate trying to score. Basinger moved to third on the play. Western Nevada intentionally walked Abby Toller and Erin Emanuel to load the bases. After fielder's choice out at the plate, Haylee Eskelson hit a hard grounder to the shortstop who overthrew first base, letting Toller score the winning run.
Toller finished the game 1-for-3 with a home run and 2 RBI. Savannah Kirkpatrick was 2-for-3 with one RBI and Jaici Bishop was 1-for-4 with 2 RBI and a home run.
Dahl, who earned the win in the circle, finished with seven strikeouts and gave up three earned runs.
CSI, which improves to 11-6 overall and 2-0 in SWAC play, hosts Western Nevada Saturday at noon for a doubleheader.