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PORTLAND, Ore. - Ashley Van Horne went 5-for-7 with a homer and three runs scored, helping College of Idaho open Cascade Conference play with a doubleheader sweep over Concordia University at Delta Park.
It marked the first time the No. 13 ranked Coyotes (10-4, 2-0 CCC) had swept a twinbill from the No. 22 Cavaliers in the Rose City since 2007.
In Game 1, both teams had opportunities in the first inning – with the Cavaliers (7-11, 0-2) taking advantage, capitalizing on a two-out error to prolong the inning, scoring the first run of the game when Cassidy Horner was plunked by a pitch.
C of I answered with two swings in the third, as Briana Brace led off with her fourth home run of the year, followed by a blast from Van Horne, that gave the Yotes the lead. CU answered in the bottom of the inning, again taking advantage of a Yote error, as Horner responded with a two-out single to tie the game at 2-2.
C of I regained the lead in the fifth, as Brace singled and moved to third on consecutive passed balls. Alexis Macias drove in the eventual game-winning run with an RBI single.
It was enough for Nickayla Skinner, who allowed six hits and struck out five for her sixth win. Brace and Van Horne each had two hits for the Yotes, with Meghan Luebbert and Rielly Byrd recording two hits for the Cavs.
C of I sprinted out of the gates in Game 2, as Katie Rowe roped a two-run triple to right and Destiny Turner plated her with a sacrifice fly, giving the visitors a 3-0 lead.
CU tallied a run on a Katie Aden single in the bottom of the inning, but the Yotes extended the lead in the third on a Rowe sacrifice fly and back-to-back RBI doubles from McKensie Stanton and Cortni Pena.
After the Cavaliers cut the margin to 6-4 in the fifth, Pena launched her first collegiate home run in the sixth to cap the scoring – then retired six of the final seven batters to pick up the win in the circle.
Van Horne was 3-for-5, with Macias and Pena also logging two hits for the Yotes. Pena worked around 10 hits, striking out three, for her fourth-straight win.
Aden was 3-for-4 with two RBI in the loss for CU.
The Lady Yotes travel north tomorrow, set for an 11 a.m. match-up at Northwest University.
