CALDWELL, Idaho - In a matchup of two-nationally ranked teams, No. 12 College of Idaho welcomed to Caldwell and Symms Field, No. 25 Eastern Oregon on Tuesday afternoon for a doubleheader. The travel partner, mid-week twinbill did not disappoint as the two teams split the twinbill. The Mountaineers took game one by a slim 1-0 margin in 10 innings and the Yotes came back with a 10-1, six inning win in game two.
The first game was a matchup of two of the top pitchers in the Cascade Collegiate Conference in Kaylie Hoskins from Eastern Oregon and
Katelyn Wilfert from College of Idaho. Wilfert entered the game as the league leader in ERA (0.84) and in wins (12), whereas Hoskins was just behind her in ERA (1.10) and the league leader in strikeouts (129).
The two pitchers went back and forth for the entire contest as both allowed just three hits through the first nine innings. The visitors ended the scoreless tie when they plated an unearned run after an error on a relay throw to the plate with one out in the top half of the 10
th. Â Hoskins closed out the game, striking out the side on her way to 17 strikeouts to raise her record to 9-3. Wilfert was the tough-luck loser, allowing five hits and striking out six to fall to 12-2.
The second game saw College of Idaho erase a 1-0 deficit to score the next 10 runs – four in the bottom of the second, two in the third, one in the fourth and three in the sixth on its way to a 10-1, six inning victory.
The Yotes (29-3, 14-3 CCC) gave an abundance of support to
Hannah McNerney, who allowed just four hits and an unearned run to raise her record to 14-1.
Eight Yotes including McNerney had a hit with three players recording multiple hits and four had multiple RBI.
Tanner Higgins went 3-for-4 with a home run and a double to go along with two RBI to lead the attack.
Hattie Hruza and
Madelyn Powell each had two hits as College of Idaho finished the game with 13 hits. Also, with two RBI were
Lena Zahniser, McNerney and Powell in the win.
Next up for College of Idaho is a four-game series against Providence (Mont.) with a doubleheader on Friday at 2 p.m. and another twinbill on Saturday at 11 a.m.
Tanner HIggins celebrates a double in the nightcap.
