CALDWELL, Idaho -
Colette Robert tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts, helping the College of Idaho split a doubleheader with rival Northwest Nazarene at Symms Field.
C of I rode the left arm of Robert for a 2-1 victory in the opener, while NNU, the preseason Great Northwest Athletic Conference favorites, rallied with two runs with two outs in their final at bat to take Game 2, 4-3.
The senior allowed just five hits and three walks - with her lone mistake a third inning solo homer by Anna Williams. The Nighthawks (9-6) had one other threat, putting runners at first and second with one out in the sixth - but
Delaney Atkins threw out Emma Longoria trying to score on a Shelbie Martinez single to end the threat.
The Yotes (11-2) drew even in the third, loading the bases with one out, with the tying run scoring on an
Aleah Mendiola RBI fielders choice. C of I took the lead for good in the fifth, as Mendiola walked with two outs and scored on a
Trystin Crofts RBI double - one of only two hits by C of I against NNU starter Jordan Adams.
In the nightcap, NNU took a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a 2-run homer from Kylie Orr, but the Yotes scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and took the lead on a
Marissa Maddox solo homer in the sixth. However, a C of I error in the seventh prolonged the inning and with two outs, an Orr RBI single tied the game and Brittany Genuardi gave the visitors the lead with an RBI base hit.
Rylee Thomas earned the win for NNU, allowing just four hits in the complete game victory, while
Nichole Giesy and
Reylene Cortes combined to allow just two earned runs on six hits in the losing effort.
The Coyotes return to action next weekend, hosting Northwest Christian in a four-game Cascade Conference series.
