ATHERTON, Calif. – The College of Idaho clinched their 28th postseason appearance in the last 29 years this afternoon, despite dropping both ends of a doubleheader at Menlo College.
The Oaks (34-21, 14-12 NAIA West) responded after squandering a seven-run lead in the opener to win, 13-9, while hanging on for a 7-5 decision in the night cap.
Even with their ninth loss in 11 games, the Yotes (29-24, 11-15) claimed at worst the No. 5 seed in the NAIA West Championships, as Oregon Tech was eliminated from the postseason chase with an 8-1 loss at Concordia.
Menlo look to run away with game one, building a 7-0 second inning lead. Taking advantage of a C of I error in the fateful second frame, using six hits, including a two-run Matthieu McHenry double, to provide the damage.
The Yotes cut into the lead in the third, getting a Chase Miller RBI single, with Cole Mansanerez adding his first collegiate home run, a grand slam, to get C of I within 7-5. Chris Barry ripped a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to give MC a four run lead, but the Yotes did not quit – getting RBI singles from Seth Champlin and Sam Grise, along with a two-run double from Brady Mooney – to get even at 9-9.
MC manufactured a run on a wild pitch in the sixth to take the lead for good, with a Barry two-run single in the eighth closing out the scoring.
Skykler Fuss got the win, tossing six strong innings of relief, with Barry going 3-for-5 with five RBI for the Oaks. Miller and Mooney each had two hits in the loss for C of I.
The night cap saw MC take advantage of opportunities, scoring five runs in the middle innings, to complete the sweep.
The Oaks scored two first inning runs – including an RBI single by Berry – but the Yotes tied the score on a two-out, two-run Mooney single. MC added two in the fourth, including a McHenry homer, while an inning later, Daniel Comstock and Wes Hoskins blasted home runs to extend the lead to 6-2.
Mooney gapped a two-run triple in the sixth and Jake Hennessey added an RBI double in the eighth to get within 7-5, but could not get close.
Brett Solano struck out seven in picking up his tenth win of the season, with MC winning despite committing five error.
Money was 2-for-3 with four RBI, with Grubbs adding two hits in the loss for the Yotes.
The two teams close out their respective regular seasons with a Saturday doubleheader at 11 a.m.
