CALDWELL, Idaho – Gregg Simonds went 3-for-4 with four RBI in the opener, leading The College of Idaho to a 12- 4 win, but John Yearout tossed a completed game four-hitter in Game 2, as Concordia University earned a 4-1 victory at Wolfe Field.
The win in the late game for the Cavaliers (22-25, 12-14 NAIA West) clinched the squad a berth in the NAIA West Tournament next week in Portland.
Game 1 was a back-and-forth contest, as a Jesse Dodd RBI single in the first inning gave the Yotes (20-22, 11-15) a 1-0 lead. CU had the bats going early, pounding out 10 hits in the first three innings – getting an RBI single from Blake Drake in the second to tie the score, while an inning later, an RBI single from Jordan Keeker and a two-run double from Cole Baruse gave the Cavs a 4-1 lead.
Alex Bos retired 12 Coyotes’ in a row, but ran into trouble in the sixth, as C of I loaded the bases with one out. Simonds chopped a ball down the left field line for a two run double, with Dylan Kowitz following with an RBI single to tie the game. An inning later, nine straight C of I batters reached with one out against reliever Blake Evetts – with the six-run inning breaking the game wide open. A Jarel Lewis RBI single gave the Yotes a 5-4 lead; Dodd was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run; Simonds lined an RBI single to center; Kowitz was plunked by a pitch to force in a run; Nick Muncy plated a run with an infield single; and Sam Johnston singled in a run to make it 10-4.
It was more than enough for Ryan Eddy, who allowed just one hit after the third inning, striking out six, to earn his eighth win of the year. Dodd went 3-for-4 with three RBI, part of a 15-hit C of I attack. Cole Shidaki went 3-for-5 in the loss for the Cavs.
Game 2 saw CU take an early 1-0 lead in the first on a Ryne Briley RBI single. Yearout retired the first 12 men in order, but the Coyotes struck in the fifth, with a Muncy RBI single evening the score.
In the sixth, Carl Beckert scored on a Michael Garza wild pitch to make it 2-1, while an inning later, two-run RBI singles from Drake and Shidaki gave CU key insurance runs – as the Cavs needed a pair of double play balls in the late innings to secure the win.
Yearout walked two and struck out four to pick up his fourth win, with Drake going 3-for-4 for CU. Garza recorded his first complete game of the year for C of I, allowing four runs on 10 hits. Muncy had the lone multi-hit game for the Yotes, going 2-for-3.
The two teams close out the regular-season tomorrow at Noon with a doubleheader – the Coyotes needing a sweep to clinch a berth in the NAIA West Tournament.
