CALDWELL, Idaho –
Niall Manning took a one-hit shutout into the ninth inning of Game 2, helping the College of Idaho split a doubleheader with the University of British Columbia in the opening NAIA West Grouping series for both teams at Wolfe Field.
Playing in frigid conditions with wind chills under 20 degrees, UBC (6-8, 1-1) claimed a 5-3 win in the opener, while C of I held on for a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.
Manning handcuffed the T-Birds in the late game – retiring the first 10 men in order before Lucas Soper fisted a double down the right field line in the fourth, but was stranded in scoring position. The righty retired 13 of the next 14 batters, until a ninth inning walk and Mitch Robinson RBI double broke up the shutout.
Miles Bigelow surrendered an RBI single to Justin Orton, but coaxed a game-ended John Whaley double-play ball to lock down the save.
The Yotes (8-10, 1-1) had their chances – stranding 13 men in the contest. The hosts loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, with
Ryan Murkle lining a two-run single into right field to take the lead. An inning later,
Carter Vieira walked, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a
Chase Labbe ground out.
Manning went eight and a third innings, allowing two hits and striking out four for his first win – with seven different Coyotes recording one hit.
Game 1 was dominated by UBC lefty Niall Windeler, who tossed seven innings of four-hit ball, striking out seven. He allowed a leadoff double in the first by
Johnny Hyland, followed by an RBI single from
Dominic Conigliaro – but retired 16 of the final 17 men he faced.
UBC grabbed the lead in the fifth, as Soper, Robinson and Orton strung together singles, with Robison and Orton driving in runs. The visitors would tack on single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings and worked around an eighth inning throwing error that plated two C of I runs, to claim the victory.
Hunter Boyd struck out eight in seven innings of work to take the loss for C of I – with Conigliaro and
Nick Mooney each recording two hits.
Soper was 3-for-4 and Robinson added two hits for the T-Birds.
The two teams will play Game 3 of the four-game series tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
