Softball | 2/28/2023 3:34:00 PM
True Home Opener: Last weekend's series was moved to Caldwell due to weather in the Helena area, the College of Idaho will host its first four games of the 2023 season against Oregon Tech. Friday's games will start at 1 p.m., and Saturday at 11 a.m.
Loffer Leadoff: Leadoff hitter
Haley Loffer became the program's all-time home runs leader with her leadoff home run in the series opener against Carroll on her way to CCC Player of the Week honors. Against the Saints, she hit .455 in four games with all five of her hits being for extra bases on her way to a .600 on-base percentage and a 1.636 slugging percentage. She hit four home runs including a pair in the nightcap on Friday. Loffer also managed to steal three bases and record eight RBI. Loffer holds the school record for stolen bases (127) and walks (121). With her first hit in the nitghtcap of Friday's doubleheader against Carroll, she eclisped the 200-hit mark, in doing so, she became the fifth player in program history to reach this milestone. Loffer is one RBI away from 100 when she reaches that milestone, she'll become just the sixth player to achieve this feat.
Katelyn Wilfert POW X 2: Pitcher
Katelyn Wilfert has been named the CCC/Rize Laboratory Pitcher of the Week twice, most recently on Monday. Over the weekend against Carroll, she allowed just seven hits in 11 innings of work and struck out 10 en route to a 0.00 ERA. Wilfert walked one batter and allowed an unearned run. Earlier this season, against Menlo (Feb. 10), she allowed five hits, struck out six and allowed two unearned runs in the win. She followed that up with a one-hitter and a shutout of No. 21 Jessup University (Feb. 11). In that win, she struck out four and did not walk a batter. Earlier this season, Wilfert pitched her second career no-hitter as she blanked Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) on January 27. The one-hitter against Jessup was also the second of her career as she allowed just one hit to Bushnell (April 8, 2022).
Hot Bat for the Hot Corner: Kaily Christensen has had a hit in 10 of 13 games, including seven of the last eight. She also has had three multi-hit games in 2023. For her career, she has 34 multi-hit games over the last three seasons.
Ten for Ten by Tanner: Tanner Higgins had her 13-game hitting streak end in game one of the double header against Carroll on Saturday. She has had six multi-hit games for the graduate student. She has scored a run in 10 of 13 games, including three multi-run games. Higgins has six extra-base hits, including two triples, a double and two home runs. Earlier this season against Jessup, she went 2-for-3 with a run scored and five RBI against No. 22 Jessup University. It was the second five RBI game of the career for Higgins.
Hattie X 2: Hattie Hruza has had a RBI in 10 of 14, including two RBI against Embry-Riddle (Jan. 27) and Arizona Christian (Jan. 28). Hruza also has two doubles, two home runs and two triples on her way to a .395 batting average.
McNerney Mastery: Hannah McNerney has pitched six-straight complete games to begin the season. For her career, she has pitched 40 complete games which ranks sixth all-time. McNerney has fanned 280 batters which ranks sixth all-time. Her and teammate
Katelyn Wilfert are seeking to join the 300 strikeout club which has been done by just five Yotes in program history.
Kounting on Kaylee: Kaylee MacDannald is in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak and has scored a run in 12 of 13 games. She has already four multi-hit games in 2023, including three three-hit contests. Seven - four doubles, a trple and two home runs - of her 20 hits in 2023 have been extra bases.
Catching It All: Sydney Zachry has been the starting catcher for the Yotes in 83 games over the last four seasons.
Lexi Join the Fun: Lexi Navarrete became the sixth player for College of Idaho to hit a home run against Carroll on February 24, 2023 as the Yotes hit a program record five home runs in the win over the Saints. The previous record for home runs in a game was four when College of Idaho went deep against OIT on May 2, 2009 and May 9, 2008.
Sibling Love: Lysette and
Ysabella Villegas are sisters and proud to be teammates together at College of Idaho. They played together in high school at nearby Bishop Kelly High School.
