CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho split a doubleheader with Northwest at Symms Field on Friday afternoon.
Game 1 went to the Yotes (11-7, 5-3 CCC) by a final of 5-1 and the Eagles (4-17, 2-6 CCC) withstood a late C of I rally to hold on for a 9-7 victory in Game 2.
Starting pitcher
Hannah McNerney (4-2) went six innings to earn the win for the Yotes in the opener, allowing just three hits and a run while striking out five and walking a pair.
C of I wasted little time getting on the board in the bottom of the first in support of their ace.
Haley Loffer got the inning started by being hit by a pitch and stealing second. Following a
Kylie Smith flyout to center,
Trystin Crofts reached on an errant throw to first base by Northwest shortstop Sam Parisio, allowing Loffer to score all the way from second.
Already ahead 1-0, Smith doubled to deep right-center in the third to put a runner in scoring position with just one out for Crofts, who tripled to right to add another run. The triple for Crofts was the 12th of her career, which ties her with
Ashley Van Horne for the most in program history.
The Eagles got a run back in the fourth inning on a solo shot off the bat of Jessica Nunes to make it 2-1.
That was as close as Northwest would get, with the Yotes adding two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth.
Loryn Fonger pitched a scoreless seventh to secure the Game 1 win for C of I.
Looking for a quick start at the plate after combining for just four hits in the opener of the doubleheader, Northwest sent nine batters to the dish in the first inning of Game 2 and turned three hits and a Coyote error in the field into five runs. The early offense was highlighted by a three-run homer for Nunes - her second of the day - this time off C of I starter
Natalie Sell, who was not able to record an out.
A Crofts sacrifice fly scored Loffer in the bottom of the first to ignite the offensive attack for the Yotes, who brought across two more in third on a Smith double to score Micah Fortune and a
Lauren Gordon base hit which sent Smith across the dish.
The Eagles added a run in the fourth, two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to extend their lead to 9-3.
Despite the large deficit, the Yotes were able to make things interesting late, starting with an
Aleah Mendiola homer to left to lead off the sixth.
In the seventh, C of I loaded the bases against Northwest starter Abby Brake, forcing the Eagles to bring in Rachel Hawley out of the bullpen. After Hawley struck out Beamer to start her outing for the second out of the frame, she would then yield a walk to
Lacie Miller to bring a run in.
With the bases still loaded and two outs,
Al Mendiola brought
Brielle Stephens in off the bench to pinch hit. The junior came up clutch with a two-RBI single to cut the lead to just two runs, however Hawley was able to induce Loffer into a game-ending groundout to first to end the contest and give the Eagles their second win in CCC play this season.
Brake (1-4) received credit for the win, while Sell (1-2) took the loss. Hawley earned her first save of the season.
The two teams return to action on Saturday for another doubleheader. First pitch in Game 1 is slated for 11 a.m.
