CALDWELL, Idaho - Alexis Macias pounded out five hits and had four RBI and Nickayla Skinner tossed back-to-back complete games, helping The College of Idaho sweep a doubleheader from Concordia University at Symms Field.
The 7-3 and 4-3 victories by the Lady Yotes (31-21, 17-11 CCC) clinched the squad the No. 4 seed in the Cascade Conference Tournament - their first postseason berth since 2009. The wins also gave the Coyotes their third 30-win season in program history - and ended a 14-game conference win streak by the Cavaliers (33-16, 18-6).
Tobey Varney led off Game 1 for the Cavs with a long home run to right center, the Yotes came right back in the bottom of the inning. Molly Mills walked and scored on a Kayla Webb RBI double to tie the score. With runners at the corners and one out, Macias hit a bounding ball that was misplayed by shortstop Taylor Copher, allowing a run to score, with an Anna Denn bases loaded walk making it 3-1.
The Yotes would break the game open in the fourth, as Macias laced a two-out RBI single, followed by a Katie Rowe run-scoring knock. After a Robin Gawlista RBI single in the sixth got CU within 6-2, Macias punched a single through the right side in the bottom of the frame to put the game out of reach.
Skinner allowed three runs on five hits for the win, with Macias going 3-for-4 and Rowe adding two hits in the victory. Cassidy Horner had two hits for the Cavs.
Game 2 was a pitchers duel through four innings, as Skinner and Ashley Suter matched zeroes - both hurlers working out of jams in the fourth inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the Yotes struck first, as Skinner ran into a rise ball and launched a solo homer to left field. However, CU answered in the sixth, as Kate Santos doubled and Copher picked her up with an RBI single to tie the score. Laura Luther followed with a line-drive homer to center to give the visitors a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Ashley Van Horne doubled and Macias followed with a base hit to put runners at first and third. Rowe gapped a two-run triple to right-center, scoring on the play when the relay throw home eluded Santos, giving the Yotes a 4-3 lead.
CU had a chance in the seventh, putting runners at first and second with two outs, but Santos grounded out to third to end the game.
Skinner picked up her 20th win of the season, allowing three runs on six hits, adding a pair of hits at the plate in the win. Suter allowed six hits and struck out four in her first loss since late March. It marked the final home games for four C of I seniors - Mills, Webb, Rachael Strong, and Hannah Johnson.
Pairings for the CCC Championships will not be determined until next weekend.
