CALDWELL, Idaho – Ryan Eddy gutted through seven innings and The College of Idaho were aided by three Corban University errors, as the Coyotes salvaged a doubleheader split with the Warriors at Wolfe Field.
Corban (12-6, 3-3 NAIA West) took the opener, 5-0, behind a four-hit shutout from Jamie McCaffrey, while the Yotes bounced back in Game 2 for an 8-5 win.
McCaffrey was the story in Game 1, allowing just one runner to third base in the win – getting a pair of key double plays behind him. He walked three men and struck out one to earn his fourth win.
The lefty was staked out to a quick lead, as a C of I throwing error on a double play ball allowed Gregg Romero to score from second in the opening frame. An inning later, a Marc Gallegos RBI single would make it 2-0, with a second run scoring on anther Yote miscue.
Corban would add to the lead in the fifth on a Jordan Johansen RBI double and cap the scoring in the seventh on a Steven Kha RBI single.
Gallegos, Kha, and Derek Legg each had two hits for Corban. Jake Hennessey had two of the four hits for the Coyotes (10-8, 5-1), with Taylor Nicholson allowing three earned runs and fanned six in seven innings.
The Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 1st, as Corban manufactured a run, as Legg singled in a run.
The Yotes would respond in the second, scoring a run on a throwing error and another on a Parker Vernon sacrifice fly, to take a 2-1 lead. Corban would retake the lead at 4-2 in the third, with a Legg RBI double the big blow.
Trailing 4-3, the Coyotes used a five-run fifth inning to take the lead for good, including an RBI single by Vernon, an RBI double from Nick Muncy, and a pair of sacrifice flies.
It was enough for Eddy, who tossed seven innings, allowing just two earned runs and struck out seven for the win. Vernon went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Coyote attack.
Legg went 4-for-4 and Gallegos had a 3-for-5 game in the loss for Corban.
The two teams close out the weekend series with an 11 a.m. doubleheader tomorrow.
