SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - After struggling all weekend to find some offense or defense, the College of Southern Idaho Softball team took a game from Salt Lake 12-11 in the final matchup of the four-game series. The Golden Eagles lost to the Bruins 15-0, 2-1 and 8-2 in the first three outings.
When the two teams met early in the season, CSI out-hit Salt Lake on the weekend but still only came away with one win. This time, the result was the same but the Golden Eagles struggled to get their offense going and the pitching and defense struggled to get outs.
After pitching a solid game Thursday, giving up just four hits to Salt Lake in the 2-1 loss, Stephanie Zimmerman started the first game Friday, giving up five runs in the opening inning. Only three were earned but CSI couldn't match it offensively. The Golden Eagles ended the game with just three hits and two runs. Melanie Groenewegen hit a two-run homer for CSI's only two runs of the game.
It looked like CSI finally got hot at the plate in game four, jumping out to a 9-2 lead through the top of the third. But Salt Lake countered, scoring four runs in the bottom of the third and five in the bottom of the fourth to take the 11-9 lead.CSI added one in the fifth and tacked on two in the sixth to go up 12-11 when Hailey Hicks knocked a pinch hit one-out double to right center to score the go-ahead run.
Samantha Riesen shut the door for CSI, holding Salt Lake scoreless in the fifth, sixth and seventh inning to earn the win in the circle.
Riesen pitched the final four innings, giving up four hits and two earned runs.
Erin Emanuel finished the game 2-for-5 with a home run and five RBI. Katie Basinger was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Mikelle Magalogo was 2-for-4 with two RBI.
CSI, now 25-13 overall and 17-7 in SWAC play, travels to Snow College Friday and Saturday.