Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
CALDWELL, Idaho - Solid pitching carried the University of Antelope Valley to a doubleheader sweep of The College of Idaho, as the Pioneers earned 4-3 and 2-1 victories at Wolfe Field.
An untimely error in extra innings gave the NAIA independent from Lancaster, Calif., the win in Game 1, while three pitchers combined to hold the Yotes (7-7) to just five hits in Game 2.
UAV (13-8-1) built a 3-0 lead in the opener - scoring all of their runs in the fourth. Three consecutive two-out RBI singles from Jonathon Ruiz, Steven Tremlin, and Neal White did the damage after C of I starter Taylor Nicholson had retired the first 10 men of the game.
C of I pieced together a pair of rallies to force extra innings – getting a two-out, two-run single from Chase Miller in the seventh, then an inning later, taking advantage of a UAV error to plate a run on a Jordan Grubbs fielders' choice. The Yotes put runners at second and third in the ninth, but could not plate the winning run.
In the tenth, back-to-back one-out singles put the go-ahead run in scoring position for the Pioneers. C of I looked to be out of the inning when Chris Serrano hit a comebacker to the mound, but reliever Kyle Garvin threw the would-be double play ball into center field, allowing the go-ahead run to score.
Miller and Brent Mehling each had three hits for the Yotes, with Nicholson going eight innings, allowing six hits, in a no-decision.
UAV starter Ayrton Costa fanned seven, while Rudy Ramirez allowed an unearned run in three-plus innings to earn the win.
Game 2 was dominated by pitching, as Bobby Diaz and two relievers limited the Yotes to just five hits – working out of a pair of jams to complete the sweep.
Eric Vegas got UAV on the board in the first inning with a two-out RBI single, with a fourth inning Wheylan Price RBI single extending the lead to 2-0.
C of I had chances – loading the bases in both the second and sixth innings, but managed just a Gregg Simonds sacrifice fly in the sixth. Pioneer pitchers did not allow a Coyote runner in scoring position over the final three frames.
Diaz got the win, striking out four in five-plus innings of work, with Angel Navarro retiring the final four men for the save.
Markus Lively took the loss for the Yotes, allowing nine hits in seven innings. Mitch Skaggs had a pair of doubles, with Simonds adding two hits in the setback.
The two teams continue the four-game series tomorrow with a 2 p.m. single-game.
