REDDING, Calif. – Destiny Turner went a combined 4-for-4 with six RBIs, leading the College of Idaho to 10-0 and 6-1 wins over Hope International in the Lady Yotes 2015 softball debut.
The sophomore also set a school record by drawing four walks in the Game 2 win, as the No. 21 ranked Yotes (2-0) opened with consecutive wins for the first time since 2012.
Alex Kordopatis recorded a shutout in her first career win, while Cortni Pena did not allow an earned run in the nightcap.
C of I batted around for six runs in the opening inning of Game 1, with Turner starting the scoring with an RBI single. Julia Rambo was plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 2-0, with Rickey Kamimae making the most of her first collegiate hit, doubling home a pair of runs. Rambo scored on a wild pitch and an RBI single by Kristin Paulazzo capped the outburst.
Kordopatis worked out of trouble in both the second and fourth – stranding two runners on in the second and the bases loaded in the fourth. The sophomore allowed just three hits and struck out three in the win.
The Yotes put the game away in the fifth, as Jodie Hoaglund gapped an RBI double and Turner launched a three-run homer.
Turner had three hits in the win, with both Hoaglund and Paulazzo each recording two hits.
In Game 2, both teams stranded runners in scoring position in the first – but each tallied runs in their next at bat. Pena opened the inning with a walk and moved to third on a Paulazzo double. Madison Cushing scored Pena from third with a base hit, with a Courtney Ellis single plating a run to make it 2-0. An Alexis Macias ground out scored Cushing to make it 3-0.
The Royals (4-4) took advantage of a two-out C of I error to extend the bottom of the frame, with Alyssa Felipe driving in a run with a single. The Yotes got the run back in the fifth, as Turner walked with the bases loaded – one of four walks in the game to her – breaking the school record of three free passes.
C of I put the game out of reach in the seventh, as Turner and Katie Rowe roped RBI singles to give the Yotes insurance.
Pena worked around seven hits and four walks to earn the victory, despite the Yotes stranding 15 runners. Nine different C of I players had at least one hit, including multi-hit games from Ellis, Rowe, and Hailey Chambers.
The Coyotes open up tournament play tomorrow at the Simpson Invitational – playing games against William Jessup, Biola, and San Diego Christian.
