MESA, Ariz. –
Richard Walker tossed five strong innings in his College of Idaho debut and
Carter Vieira had a 3-hit day, leading the Coyotes to an 8-1 victory over Benedictine Mesa in the 2019 season opener at Gene Autry Park.
The right-hander allowed just three hits and one run, striking out four to earn the victory, as three Yotes (1-0) relievers combined for four shutout innings – as C of I won their opener for the first time since 2016.
C of I struck first in the third inning, as
Dylan Mansanarez singled was awarded home plate on a two-out Vieira single – after he was obstructed by the Redhawks (2-1) third baseman.
The Yotes broke the game open in the middle innings – adding two runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth.
Payton Lewis roped a two-out triple in the fourth and scored when
Caden Jensen reached on a throwing error. Mansanarez followed with an RBI single to plate Jensen for a 3-0 lead. An inning later,
Austin Van Horne singled home Vieira, with C of I adding two additional runs on a Ben-U fielding error.
Walker worked out of trouble in all five innings – stranding six runners – allowing only a Brett Adams fifth inning sacrifice fly.
C of I put the game away with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings – as
Alec Hopkins scored on a two-out double-steal rundown, while Van Horne doubled and scored on a
Chase Labbe sacrifice fly.
Jared Bowman fanned two in two innings of relief, while both Vieira and Labbe tossed scoreless frames.
Vieira was 3-for-4 in the win, with Van Horne going 2-for-5 and Mansanarez 2-for-3 for the Yotes. Kelby Richardson went 2-for-4 in the loss for Ben-U, with starter Ryan Wicketts going taking the loss – allowing six runs in four-plus innings.
The two teams play the middle games of the four-game set tomorrow, with first pitch set for 11 a.m.
