Box Score MESA, Ariz. - The College of Idaho baseball team saw the offense light up the scoreboard once again to start the season, earning a second straight win while putting up seven runs to start the 2024 campaign, taking down Park Gilbert by a score of 7-5.
The Yotes (2-0) offense was paced by a 3-4 effort from
Kris Kirkpatrick, who in his season debut drove in a pair of runs.
Matthew Iwamizu also recorded a pair of hits in the win. For the Buccaneers (0-2), there were three players with two hit performances. Two players, Jason Newton and Cole Sneed, were able to drive in RBI's.Â
Ben Gaff got the scoring started in the top of the third inning on a double, which scored Iwamizu. The third inning scoring wasn't done, as
Alex McFarland-Smith reached on a fielder's choice, driving in
Jace Mahlke, who scored his first run in a College of Idaho uniform. In the fourth inning,
Chandler Stocking drove in his first run as a Yote on a groundout to the shortstop, as the Yotes jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
The Buccaneers were able to get a few runs back on a single and a ground out over the next two innings. McFarland-Smith drove in his second run of the game on a single, and that was followed up by
Kris Kirkpatrick driving in his two runs on the game on a single, as
Jack Ingraham and Mahlke came around to score, giving the Yotes a 6-2 advantage. In the top of the ninth, Stocking drove in another run on a single as
Hutton Stiles crossed the plate to round out the Yotes offense.
On the mound,
Jacob Lewis earned his first win in his College of Idaho career, pitching three innings in relief while striking out four.
Willy Shirts earned his first save of the season, pitching 1.2 innings of work, not allowing a run while striking out one. For Park, Eduardo Crosby was tabbed with the loss, pitching three innings and allowing two runs.
The Yotes will return to the diamond to close out the season opening series tomorrow at 11 a.m.Â
