2020 Softball Notebook - Week 3

LIVE COVERAGE: Live Video for the tripleheader at Oregon Tech this Friday will be provided on the OIT Stretch Internet Portal. Live Stats will be on SIDEARM Stats.

COMPLETE MEDIA GAME NOTES
 
SOFTBALL/VOLLEYBALL DINNER AUCTION: The annual Dinner-Auction to benefit the College of Idaho softball and volleyball programs is set for Saturday, Mar. 7 in the Simplot Dining Hall of the C of I campus. Tickets are $50 per seat and include both dinner and an open bar. Eight-person tables are available as well. This is the main fundraiser of the year for the nationally-ranked softball and volleyball teams. Social hour starts promptly at 6 p.m,, with dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Enjoy the live, silent and dessert auctions throughout the night.
 
ESCAPING JAMS: The Coyotes set a school record by turning four double plays in the 6-4 Game 2 win over Carroll last weekend.
 
SIX OR MORE RUNS EQUALS SUCCESS: When the Yotes score six or more runs in a game the team has gone 5-0 this season, including both wins last weekend against Carroll.
 
HOLDING LATE LEADS: C of I has not lost when leading after six innings, posting a record of 4-0.
 
CROFTS CRUSHING THE BALL: Infielder Trystin Crofts has been one of the hottest hitters in the Cascade Conference through 13 games this season, hitting .450 with a double, three triples, two home runs and 10 RBI. She has 18 hits in 40 at-bats and has also reached base a combined five times between earning walks and being hit. Crofts has reached base in eight consecutive games.
 
OPPONENT PREVIEW - OREGON TECH: The Owls made the NAIA National Tournament in 2019 and finished with a 44-17 overall record. This season, Neenah Pangilinan (.442 BA, 7 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI) and Aubrie Businger (.378 BA, 3 2B, 2 HR and 13 RBI) have led the offensive attack, with Emily McAdams (3-2, 2.55 ERA, 24 K, 15 BB) and Sarah Abramson (4-4, 4.20 ERA, 38 K, 28 BB) the primary innings eaters on the mound, throwing all but 18 1/3 innings this year.

NEUTRAL SITE ROUND TWO: This past weekend C of I was forced to move the games against Carroll to Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario, Ore. The two squads also had to move their contests to a neutral site in 2017, when the games were played in Missoula, Mont.

BEST IN THE CONFERENCE: The Yotes lead the CCC with a miniscule 2.19 ERA this season, allowing just 27 earned runs through 13 contests.

FONGER CONTINUING SUCCESS: Both wins in the circle for C of I last week were earned by Loryn Fonger, who is now 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA in 17 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

SELL EARNS FIRST SAVE: By pitching a scoreless seventh inning in Game 1 on Saturday against Carroll, freshman Natalie Sell earned her first career save. The Coeur d'Alene grad is 1-0 with a 2.86 ERA in 7 1/3 innings.

LOFFER LEADING LEAGUE: With 12 walks this season, Haley Loffer has earned the most free passes of anyone in the conference. The walks have helped her to a .375 on-base percentage.

GORDON GOES OFF: Freshman Lauren Gordon posted the best day of her young career on Saturday against Carroll, tallying three hits and three RBI in five at-bats over the course of the doubleheader.

FAST STARTS: C of I has jumped ahead of opponents in the first two innings of games with regularity, outscoring the opposition 11-3 in the first inning and 14-5 in the second inning this season. The Yotes are 7-2 when scoring first.

CARDIAC YOTES: A year after going 1-11 in games decided by one run, C of I went 8-4 in one-run games in 2019, a huge key in an 18-win improvement in the one year span. The Yotes have played four one-run contests in 2020 and are 2-2 in those affairs.

SWIPING BAGS: The Yotes are 23-of-24 on stolen base attempts this season. Haley Loffer has 11 steals in 12 attempts, which leads the conference.

NATIONAL RESPECT: For the fifth time in program history, The College of Idaho softball team entered the season ranked in the NAIA Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning the No. 19 spot in the poll that was released by the national office. The ranking marks the first time since 2015 that the Yotes have landed in the preseason edition of the poll, with that team being ranked No. 21. C of I has been ranked in the Top-20 in the NAIA Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll on three other occasions, including 2014 (No. 13), 2010 (No. 15) and 2008 (No. 14). Head coach Al Mendiola's team received 225 voter points in the poll, with fellow Cascade Conference foes Southern Oregon (529) and Oregon Tech (406) each earning spots in the Top-10. The Raiders were ranked No. 1 and the Owls No. 8. 

A SEASON FOR THE BOOKS: C of I set new standards or matched previous school-best performances for team and individual statistics in 13 categories in 2019, including the most wins in a season in program history (40). Multiple individuals cracked the single season record book - including a pair of returners - as Haley Loffer finished with 47 runs scored and 32 stolen bases and Trystin Crofts posted 73 hits, 21 doubles and 119 total bases. In her senior season, Marissa Maddox set a school record with 54 RBI.

LOOKING AHEAD: Following the weekend trip to Klamath Falls, C of I returns home for a four-game set against Northwest next Friday and Saturday.

RECORD BOOK UPDATE: With 90 runs scored for her career, Trystin Crofts has moved into a tie for eighth on the all-time record list at the C of I. Her 155 hits ranks tied for fifth, 34 doubles is third, 10 triples is second, 17 home runs is sixth, 98 RBI is fourth and 35 stolen bases is tied for fifth. In just 68 career games, Haley Loffer has swiped 43 bases, moving her into the fourth spot in the career leaderboard. Hannah McNerney has the sixth best career ERA out of Yotes pitchers who have thrown a minimum of 25 innings, posting a 2.59 ERA over the course of 143 1/3 innings pitched.