CALDWELL, Idaho – Markus Lively tossed a complete game five-hitter, helping the College of Idaho salvage a doubleheader split with Saint Martin's University at Wolfe Field.
The Coyotes (5-6) hung on for a 2-1 win in Game 2, after the Saints rolled to a 13-1 victory in today's opener.
Lively was the story, retiring 17 straight men after stranding runners at first and second in the third inning. Leading by a run in the ninth, the lefty got the first out and struck out Travis Shaw, but the curve ball bounced off home plate, allowing the Saints (2-7) designated hitter to reach first. A single by Chandler Tracy and a walk to Carl Svanevik loaded the bases, but Lively fanned Zach Raczok and got Adam Eskil to ground out to end the game.
SMU got on the board in the second on an Eskil sacrifice fly, but the Yotes answered in the bottom of the third, as a Cole Mansanerez fly ball out in shallow right field was deep enough to score Jordan Grubbs to tie the score. C of I would take the lead in the seventh, as Grubbs had an infield single and moved to third on consecutive ground outs. Mansanerez would follow with a ringing single into center to give C of I the lead.
Lively walked just two and struck out seven in the victory, with Grubbs and Mansanerez each recording two hits. Brad Banker was solid for SMU in a no-decision, allowing a run on six innings in five plus innings.
Game 1 was all SMU, as a three-run Shaw homer in the third helped the Saints to a 4-0 lead. The Division II school would tack on single runs in the fourth and fifth, with Eskil plating two with a two-run single in the sixth to extend the lead to 9-0.
It was more than enough for Josh Moss, who worked around six walks and six strikeouts for the win. The Saints had 17 hits in the win, with Svanevik going 4-for-5 and Shaw driving in four runs.
The teams conclude the four game series tomorrow with a noon first pitch.
