Yotes Avoid Elimination with Pair of Wins at 2022 CCC Softball Tournament Presented by U.S. Bank

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Staring at elimination, the No. 4 seed / No. 20 College of Idaho softball team pulled off two wins on Saturday to stay alive in the 2022 Cascade Collegiate Conference Softball Tournament presented by U.S. Bank with an 12-8 win over Corban and a 9-1 win in five innings over British Columbia.

The two wins move the College of Idaho to the 40-win mark for the third time in program history, joining the 2019 and 2021 squads. College of Idaho is now 40-14 on the season. The recipe it took to get to 40 wins was on display in the two wins on Saturday as it was potent hitting at the plate in both games and consistent efforts in the circle by its pitching staff – Katelyn Wilfert, Annie Polster and Hannah McNerney.
 
Game 1
The first game on the day saw College of Idaho rally from an early 3-0 deficit in the top of the first to come back with five runs in its half of the inning en route to a 12-8 win over Corban.
 
In the win, Hattie Hruza paced a nine-hit attack with three hits go along with three RBI and two runs scored. Joining Hruza in the offensive onslaught was two more hits from Tanner Higgins and Kaylee MacDannald. Four Yotes including Hruza and Higgins along with Haley Loffer and Kaily Christensen scored two runs.
 
College of Idaho used three pitchers, including Annie Polster who came into the game in the bottom of the first. Polster went 3.1 innings for her first win and longest outing since March 26 against Carroll. She allowed just four hits, three runs – one earned to get her seventh win of the season. Then, Polster and Yotes called on Hannah McNerney, who pitched the final 3.2 innings with four strikeouts for her fifth save. The fifth save of the season by McNerney ties the single-season school record of Nickayla Skinner in 2012. She now holds the career record with eight saves.

 
Game 2
The second game saw the Yotes scored in every inning, including three each in the first and the fifth inning en route to a 9-1 win over British Columbia. College of Idaho pounded out 11 hits on its way to nine runs to give support to starting pitcher Katelyn WIlfert, who allowed just two hits in the win.
 
Leadoff batter Haley Loffer set the tone for the nightcap, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three more stolen bases. Hruza picked up two more hits and Kylie Smith and Kaylee MacDannald also had two hits. Lexi Navarrete and Kaily Christensen each had two RBI in the win.

The win for Wilfert raises her record to 14-6 in the complete game effort. She allowed just two singles to the Thunderbirds in the win.


Sunday will be another day where a loss will end the tournament for the Yotes, who will face Eastern Oregon in an elimination game at 11 a.m. (PST)/noon (PT).