SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The College of Idaho fell victim to a seventh inning, two-out double that scored both the tying and go-ahead runs in a 7-6 loss in the first game of the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championships to William Carey (Miss.).
The Crusaders (38-19) got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning on a James Land homerun to center field. WCU would add another tally on a fielder's choice that scored Adrian Brown.Â
The Coyotes (38-21) would rally in the fourth, scoring their first run on a
Jake Hennessey single that brought home
Bobby Wright. C of I would take the lead after
Mitch Skaggs singled to left to bring home three runs. WCU tacked on a run in the bottom half of the inning as Brown scored for the second time on the day.
Both teams traded a pair of runs in the sixth setting up a wild seventh inning as the Coyotes surrendered the lead on two-out double that brought home the tying and winning runs.
William Carey advances to play the host and No.1 seed in the bracket, Westmont (Calif.), later this afternoon.
The Coyotes fall to the consolation bracket and will await the loser of the No.2 Madonna (Mich.)/No.3 Master's (Calif.) tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. (MTN).
The meeting marked the first time that the College of Idaho and William Carey have met on the diamond.
