CALDWELL, Idaho – College of Idaho opened the 2021 baseball season with an epic come-from-behind rally, using a 7-run eighth inning outburst to stun Midland University, 13-12, in Game 1 of the Coach Calderone Invitational at Gene Autry Park.
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The Coyotes (1-0) trailed 10-2 after five innings, but battled back in the late innings – plating three runs in the sixth, adding a run in the seventh and completing the comeback with the monster eighth inning.
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Trailing 12-6 with two on and two out in the eighth, eight consecutive C of I batters reached base – with
Tanner Leaf and
Anthony Pannullo delivering 2-run singles to cut the deficit to 12-10. A
Ben Hansen bases-loaded walk got the Coyotes within a run, before
Dillon Danner capped the comeback with a 2-strike, 2-run single.
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Luke Brewer did the rest, tossing two shutout innings to pick up his first collegiate save.
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The Warriors (1-2), from Nebraska, took advantage of five C of I errors in the first three innings to stake themselves to a 7-1 lead. Three 2-out Coyote errors in the second allowed four runs to score, while a wild throw with the bases loaded and two outs in the third cleared the bases.
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C of I would chip away at the deficit – as a 2-run triple by
Ryan Nolan and a
Matthew Clay RBI single in the sixth made it 10-5. Nolan and Clay each finished the afternoon with two hits.
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Jaden Trueblood earned the win in relief, throwing two and two-thirds innings of three hits relief, allowing two runs and striking out two. Starter
Connor Root went three innings, allowing seven runs – all unearned.
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C of I returns to action tomorrow night, meeting Arizona Christian.
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NOTES:
- The 13 runs by C of I was more than the team scored in a game in 2020 and the most by a Coyote team in a season opener since 2010
- Tobey Summers made the most of his first collegiate start, going 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored and a sacrifice fly
- The Yotes took advantage of 14 walks by Midland pitchers
- Leaf led C of I hitters with three RBI
