VANCOUVER, B.C. – A monster eighth inning two-out rally in the opener helped the College of Idaho rally for a victory, however, the University of British Columbia earned a crucial Game 2 victory and an inside track to host postseason games today at Thunderbird Park.
The Coyotes (31-18, 18-13 NAIA West) scored five times in the eighth inning of Game 1 to erase a UBC lead to win 5-3; while T-Bird pitchers Curtis Taylor and Brad Smith combined on a four-hit shutout in a 6-0 victory in the nightcap.
With the series win, UBC (34-17, 20-11) holds a two-game lead on C of I for the right to host the NAIA West Championships. The T-Birds Magic Number to secure the bid is three – any combination of wins next week at Oregon Tech or C of I losses in their home series with Simpson. If the two teams finish tied in the standings – the Coyotes will earn the tiebreak, having won the season series, four games to three.
UBC was in control of the opener, taking a three-run lead into the eighth inning – despite recording just two hits off Coyote starter
Riley O'Brien. Tyler Enns scored on a wild pitch in the third; Bruce Yari scored on a C of I error in the fourth; and John Whaley tripled home a run in the seventh to make it 3-0.
C of I was down to their final four outs when seven consecutive batters reached base. Singled from
Jake Hennessey and
Sam Grise was followed by an RBI single from Nate Hundley to get the Yotes on the board.
Hunter Hanson tied the game with a two-run double to left and following an intentional walk to
Mitch Skaggs,
Cole Mansanarez punched an RBI single to right to plate Hanson with the go-ahead run.
Dalton Ridgway lined an RBI single to right to push the lead to 5-3.
Drew Klassen did the rest, retiring all six batters he faced in relief, to record his first career save. O'Brien was solid in a no-decision, allowing just one hit and striking out seven in six-plus innings.
Game 2 was dominated by the UBC hurlers – as Taylor worked six innings of three-hit ball, striking out five – with Smith allowing just one hit and fanning three to earn the save.
The T-Birds struck first in the third, as a C of I error allowed a run to score, with Yari making it 2-0 with an RBI double. Yari continued his big series in the fifth, rapping a second RBI double, while an inning later, a two-run double from Griff Goyer broke the game open.
Yari was 2-for-4 in the win for the T-Birds.
Niall Manning took the loss for C of I, allowing two earned runs on five hits, striking out four in five innings of work.
C of I closes out the regular season next weekend with a four-game series at Wolfe Field vs. Simpson.
