CALDWELL, Idaho –
Austin Van Horne drove in three runs and
Riley O'Brien tossed four shutout innings of relief for his third save, as the College of Idaho split a doubleheader with No. 8 ranked Lewis-Clark State at Wolfe Field.
The Coyotes (14-14, 7-4 NAIA West) won the nightcap 3-2, rebounding after L-C hit a season-high four home runs in a 10-2 Game 1 victory.
C of I jumped on Warriors (12-8, 6-3) Game 2 starter, Gage Burland, in the first inning, as
Johnny Hyland single and an out later moved to third when
Cole Mansanarez reached on a two-base throwing error. With two outs, Van Horne lined a two-run single through the middle for the Yotes first lead in the series. Two innings later, Van Horne did it again, lining an RBI single to plate Mansanarez, who led off the inning with a double off the left field wall.
Starter
Niall Manning allowed just one hit through the first four innings – the lone hit, an Evan Douglas solo homer to right. LCSC added a Seaver Whalen RBI single in the fifth, but the righty struck out J.J. Robinson with the tying run at third to end the threat.
O'Brien did the rest for the Yotes, working out of a first and second jam in the sixth and coaxing an inning ending double play ball in the seventh. The righty retired the final six in order, including a strike out looking to pinch hitter Brock Ephan to end the game.
Van Horne finished 2-for-3 and
Bobby Wright added a single to extend his hit-streak to 10 games.
Burland went six strong innings in the loss for L-C, striking out seven.
In the opener, the Warriors used the long ball to earn the victory. Gunnar Buhner got LCSC on the board in the third with a solo homer, while in the fourth, Raymond Pedrina launched a grand slam just inside the left field foul pole for a 6-0 lead. An inning later, Ephan got into the act, blasting a long solo shot to dead center field.
C of I cut the margin to 7-2 in the fifth, as
Hunter Hanson tripled home Van Horne, who led off the inning with a walk – with Hanson scoring on a wild pitch. But Warriors starter Connor Brogdon stranded the bases loaded to escape further damage.
The visitors put the game away in the seventh, scoring three runs – including a Wahlen solo homer.
Brodgon fanned eight in picking up the win for the Warriors, with Ephan and Buhner each recording two hits. Six Coyotes had one hit apiece, with
Anthony Martine striking out six in six innings in the losing effort. Reliever
Grayson Wilkie was solid for C of I, retiring nine of the 10 batters faced, including two strikeouts.
The series finale is set for 2 p.m. tomorrow.
