GLENDALE, Ariz. – A stretch of 10 games in five days concluded on Monday as The College of Idaho split a doubleheader against Arizona Christian.
Aleah Mendiola hit a three-RBI double with two outs in the seventh in Game 1 to lead the Yotes to a 7-4 come-from-behind win, with the Firestorm scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth to come away on top by a 4-1 final in Game 2.
Down 4-2 entering the last chance top of the seventh in the opener, pinch hitter
Alyssa Goff reached on a leadoff error to ignite the C of I rally.
Haley Loffer then walked, followed by a
Kylie Smith sacrifice bunt and a
Trystin Crofts flyout to the shortstop.
With two outs in the inning,
Martha Tooley walked to load the bases for Mendiola, who doubled to the wall in center to empty the bases and give the Yotes a 5-4 lead. A
Lexi Navarrete RBI single plated another run, with
Hattie Hruza coming around to score the fifth tally of the inning when Firestorm catcher Paige Chruch's throw sailed over the head of third baseman Jamilia Cosay.
Loryn Fonger (2-0) pitched a scoreless final two innings to earn the win, allowing just one hit. Fonger has yet to allow a run this year in 9 2/2 innings of work out of the bullpen.
Hannah McNerney started for the Yotes and went five innings, yielding eight hits and four runs, three of which were earned. She walked four and struck out a batter.
Neither team crossed the plate in Game 2 until the sixth inning, when Arizona Christian turned a leadoff walk by Tatumn Porras into four runs on three hits. Cosay's two-RBI single brought home the first two runs, with Claire Buckley's sacrifice bunt scoring another and Church's base hit plating the final run of the frame.
C of I made things interesting in the seventh, loading the bases with one out. Mendiola delivered a run-scoring groundout to score Crofts, leaving runners on second and third with two outs. ACU starter Emerald Grijalva (2-0) struck out Hruza looking to end the threat and earn the win for the Firestorm.
Grijalva pitched a complete game, giving up just one run on seven hits and two walks, striking out five.
Navarrete (0-3) started for C of I and was outstanding in the first five innings, allowing just two hits before the ACU bats manufactured the four runs in the sixth.
The Yotes now have a long break between games, not returning to action until Feb. 21 when Carroll comes to Caldwell for the conference opener.
