CALDWELL, Idaho –
Alex McFarland-Smith and
Jonah Hultberg combined for three home runs and 10 RBI, with
Connor Root striking out a career-high nine batters in a Game 2 win, as College of Idaho split a Saturday doubleheader with Central Washington at Wolfe Field.
The Division II Wildcats (1-1) jumped out to a big early lead in a 9-5 victory in the opener, before the Yotes bats came alive in the nightcap, a 15-3 win.
C of I (4-2) took advantage of six walks and five hit by pitches in their Game 2 win – with McFarland-Smith and Hultberg providing the big blows.
The Coyotes took a 1-0 first inning lead on a bloop infield RBI single from
Kirby Robertson and extended the lead to 5-0 in the second. Hultberg blasted a 2-run homer off the scoreboard in right-center and McFarland-Smith gapped a 2-run double into the power alley.
The hosts pushed the lead to 11-0 in the fifth, as Robertson lined an RBI single to left and McFarland-Smith cleared the bases with a long 3-run homer to left. An inning later, Hultberg launched his second 2-run bomb of the game, making it 13-1.
It was more than enough for Root, who pitched seven innings of one-run ball, limiting CWU to just five hits. He struck out the side in the fourth inning and only needed 82 pitches in his quality start.
McFarland-Smith went 4-for-4, becoming the first C of I player since 2019 to record six RBIs in a game, with Hultberg finishing 3-for-5 with four RBIs - the first Yote to record a multi home run game in six seasons. Both players have now hit safely in 6-straight games to open 2022.
Both Robertson and
Weston Miller had two hits, part of a 14-hit C of I attack.
Tyler McClain hit a solo home run in the loss for Central.
The script flipped in the opener, as CWU took a 6-0 lead in the third and never looked back. Austin Ohland ripped a 2-run double in the first inning to stake the Cats to a 3-0 lead – as Josh Touhey tossed five strong innings for the victory.
Ben Gaff went 3-for-4 – including a third inning RBI single, with both
Kris Kirkpatrick and Dylan Danner going 2-for-4 with a double.
Luke Brewer was solid in relief, tossing three shutout innings.
The two teams close out the weekend series tomorrow with an 11 a.m. doubleheader.
