KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. –
Connor Root tossed seven shutout innings in the opener and The College of Idaho rallied from a 6-run deficit in the nightcap, as the Yotes swept a Sunday doubleheader at Oregon Tech inside Kiger Stadium.
The Coyotes (13-14, 5-7 CCC) built a 7-0 lead and held on to win Game 1, 7-5, while rallying from a 6-0 deficit to win Game 2, 8-6, as the two teams have split eight games this season.
Root was dominant for his second-straight start and extended a scoreless inning streak to 14.1. The right-hander limited OIT to just four hits and tied a career-high with seven strikeouts in picking up his third win.
C of I struck first in the third inning on a 2-run
Matthew Clay single and took advantage of four walks and a hit-by-pitch in the fourth to extend the lead to 5-0.
Leading 7-0, the Owls (8-14, 3-5) plated two in the eighth and got a Dalton Daily 3-run homer in the ninth to pull with 7-5, but
Ben Tighe entered and got the final three men in order to earn his first save of 2021.
Carter Vieira went 2-for-6 with three runs scored and
Jonah Hultberg had two hits and two runs scored in the victory.
Tech looked to have Game 2 in hand after a 6-run fourth, capped by a long 3-run homer from Kellen Mendez. However, the Yotes answered back, scoring six runs in the fifth, as
Ryan Nolan started the rally with a 2-run single and
Austin Van Horne tying the game with a 3-run homer, his fourth of the season.
C of I took the lead in the seventh on a Clay RBI single, with
Erik Wisenor getting the final six outs for his second save.
Van Horne went 2-for-4 in the victory, adding seven innings on the mound to pick up his third victory – striking out seven. Both Nolan and
Tanner Leaf added two hits in the win.
The Yotes return home next weekend, starting an 8-game homestand on Friday night, meeting Lewis-Clark State at 6 p.m.
