TWIN FALLS, Idaho - The College of Southern Idaho Softball team advanced to the Region 18 Championship game after beating Salt Lake 9-8 in the bottom of the 10th inning Thursday.
Golden Eagle Hailey Hicks led off the inning with a double. After a Nicole Renner fly out, the Bruins walked Melanie Groenwegen to Batchelor. The freshman calmly drove the ball to left field for the game-winning rbi-hit to send CSI into the Region 18 Championship game Friday at 1:30 p.m.
CSI led 8-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh but watched the lead quickly disappear to force extra innings.
Both teams had runners left on in the eighth and ninth innings and Salt Lake stranded two in the top half of the 10th before CSI found some late-game magic.
Batchelor ended the game 3-for-5 with two RBI. Hannah Peterson and Tristin Evans each had home runs in the game.
Stefani Zimmerman earned the win. The sophomore started the game and finished the game with Hadlie Henderson throwing 3.2 innings sandwiched between. Zimmerman gave up five earned runs on 11 hits with two strikeouts. Henderson gave up two earned runs on three hits.
Salt Lake will play the winner of Snow and Southern Nevada Friday at 11 a.m. The winner will take on CSI in the championship game at 1:30 p.m.