CALDWELL, Idaho - Sam Grise beat out a potential double play ball in the eighth inning, allowing the go-ahead run to score, as the College of Idaho defeated Saint Martin's, 4-2, in the opening game of a four game series at Wolfe Field.
Locked in a 2-2 tie, Cole Mansanerez led off the eighth with a double, with pinch runner Seth Champlin moving to third after one-out walks to Jake Guza and Jake Hennessey. Â Grise followed with a slow grounder to second, with the Saints (1-5) able to get an out at second, but the Yotes catcher legging out the fielders' choice at first give C of I the lead. Â On the next pitch, Grise was caught in a run-down between first and second, allowing Guza to score from third to give the Yotes (4-5) an insurance run.
Joel Martin worked around a one-out walk to pick up his first save of the season.
Kyle Garvin got the win for C of I, throwing eight strong innings, allowing eight hits and striking out seven.
The Yotes got on the board first, as Jordan Grubbs led off the opening frame with a double - scoring on a Chase Miller ground out. Â In the third, Miller lined an RBI single up the middle to give C of I a 2-0 lead.
SMU answered with the bat of Chandler Tracy, who clubbed long solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings to tie the score.
Grubbs went 3-for-3 in the victory for the Yotes, with Tracy going 3-for-4 in the loss for the Saints. Â SMU starter Zach Cater went seven-plus innings, allowing two earned runs on 10 hits in the losing effort.
The series continues tomorrow with a doubleheader at 11 a.m.
