GILBERT, Ariz. – No. 13 College of Idaho softball opened up the 2024 season with a pair of mercy-rule victories to sweep Park-Gilbert (AZ), winning 10-2 in six innings and 10-1 in five innings on Monday. The 20 runs in the first two games are the most to start a season in program history.
College of Idaho (2-0) started the season with wins in its first two games for the second-straight season. The recipe for success continues to be solid performances at the plate – 12 and 10 hits, respectively – and strong pitching in the circle – allowing four and five hits, respectively.
Game one saw, College of Idaho hit three home runs in the third inning to end a scoreless tie and put the visiting Yotes ahead 4-0. The big blast of the inning was the two-run shot by
Madelyn Powell. The momentum carried into the fifth inning as they plated two runs on four hits. Two of the runs came off the bat of
Lolo Walker, who is a transfer from the University of New Mexico.
With a 6-0 lead, College of Idaho scored two more in the fifth without a hit. After giving up two in the bottom of the fifth, the Yotes plated two more on a two-RBI single for a 10-2 lead. College of Idaho starting pitcher
Annie Polster wrapped up her outing with back-to-back strikeouts to end the contest.
Offensively,
Lexi Navarrete and
Kaylee MacDannald each had three hits, Powell and
Ashlynn Nixon each had two hits. Walker had three RBI in the win. Polster allowed just four hits to the 23 batters that she faced for the win.
The nightcap saw College of Idaho plate four runs in the third and five more in the fifth to go along with a run in the second for the 10-1 victory. The 10 runs came on 10 hits, including a pair of home runs by Walker in the third and fifth inning. The five RBI by Walker is the most since a five-RBI game by
Madelyn Powell on March 26, 2023. Navarrete had three more hits, Hruza added a pair to go along with the two from Walker.
In the circle,
Abbey Brooks in her debut allowed five hits and struck out four as she faced just 23 batters in the contest. Of the five hits, she allowed just one extra-base hit.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, College of Idaho extended its lead in the third with a four-run inning. The big blast was a three-run homerun by Walker and she had her hand in the five-run fifth inning when she hit a two-run home run.
Next, College of Idaho will face Arizona Christian in a twinbill on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in Glendale.
