WADDELL, Ariz. – College of Idaho used a 14-hit attack to pick up a victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State in today's opener at the Calderone Classic, but fell victim to four Kansas Wesleyan home runs in a afternoon loss on Day 2 of the 2022 baseball season.
The Yotes (2-1) never trailed in the 10-8 morning victory over OPSU, but fell behind 10-1 after four innings in the 16-6 setback to KWU.
The C of I offense put up big numbers against the Aggies – bolting to a 5-0 lead after two innings.
Kris Kirkpatrick had an RBI double in a 2-run first, while
Jonah Hultberg gapped an RBI triple and
Kirby Robertson followed with a 2-run double in a 3-run second.
After OPSU (0-2) cut the margin to 5-3 in the fourth, the Coyotes plated three in the fifth, capped by a
Ben Gaff seeing-eye single to regain the 5-run cushion. The Aggies got within 10-8 in the eighth, but
Erik Wisenor got the final five outs for his second save of the young campaign.
Connor Root allowed two unearned runs on one hit in three innings of work on the mound, with
Colby Durski earning the winning, allowing an earned run in two innings – getting C of I through the fifth.
Kirkpatrick went 3-for-3 with two doubles,
Trevor Watkins went 3-for-5 with a double, triple and three runs scored, Hultberg went 2-for-4, with Robertson adding two hits and four RBI in the win.
The battle of Coyotes in Game 2 went to the Salina, Kan., squad – as Kevin Crus, Reece Bishop and William Dryb all hit homers and Tyler Triano added a grand slam – as the Coyotes (3-0) earned the victory.
Andrew Vaughn got the start and struck out five in three innings, but surrendered six runs on five hits in his first appearance since 2020.
Gaff had the lone multi-hit game for C of I, going 2-for-3, while Hultberg had a double and three RBI and Robertson slammed his first home run of the season.
The Coyotes close out the weekend tomorrow morning, meeting San Diego Christian at 10 a.m.
