EUGENE, Ore. – Little could slow down The College of Idaho on Friday, as the Yotes scored 28 combined runs over the course of a pair of wins over Bushnell at Rich Schwab Field.
A seven-run first inning sparked C of I (24-8, 14-0 CCC) to a 15-3 victory in the opener before going on to run away from the Beacons (6-22, 3-11 CCC) in a 13-0 defeat in the second game.
In the bottom of the first inning of the first game,
Kaily Christensen ignited the offensive fireworks, clearing the bases with a double to make it 3-0.
Hattie Hruza then blasted a two-run homer over the fence in left, with
Haley Loffer adding a two-RBI double to make it 7-0 right out of the chutes.
Bushnell worked to plate three runs in the bottom of the second to inch closer, however back-to-back four-run innings by C of I in the fourth and fifth innings closed the book on any comeback opportunity the Beacons may have had.
In the fourth, Hruza connected on a run-scoring double down the line in left and pinch hitter
Hannah Mikel unloaded on a three-run homer to left.
The fifth inning saw Christensen contribute a two-run single to get things going.
Tanner Higgins and
Mallory Copeland each added RBI base hits as well.
Katelyn Wilfert was outstanding in relief to pick up the win, allowing just two hits while striking out five.
Christensen finished the first game 3-for-3 with five RBI. Hruza was 2-for-4 with three RBI and a pair of runs, while Loffer,
Mallory Copeland and
Trystin Crofts each posted two hits. C of I ended the contest with 17 hits.
To round out the day, the Yotes once again jumped ahead early, with Loffer coming in on a double steal in which Christensen also swiped second.
That would be all the run support that Wilfert (9-3) needed, as the right-hander pitched a complete game one-hit shutout.
While Wilfert did her work in the circle, the C of I bats continued to hit the opposing pitching hard, piling up four runs in three straight innings after the first.
Sydney Zachry started the scoring in the second with an RBI double, followed by a
Kylie Smith double to left-center to plate two more. Crofts then singled to right to score Smith.
Zachry once again picked up a run in the third with a single through the left side to bring in Hruza. Loffer later hit a double to left to score Zachry, with Smith launching a two-run homer to left-center.
Four more runs came across in the fourth as extra insurance for Wilfert, including a two-RBI double off the bat of Smith and a Crofts RBI base hit.
Smith had a huge game at the plate, finishing 3-for-3 with six RBI and three runs. The six runs batted in over the course of one game ties a school record.
Loffer, Crofts and Zachry each added two hits.
The two teams are back in action on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. PT for another doubleheader.
