CALDWELL, Idaho - The home opener saw the Yotes pitching staff shine, as well as hot bats drive in six runs on a record setting evening as the College of Idaho takes down Westcliff, 6-2.
With his appearance in Friday's win, senior pitcher
Colby Durski has broken the program's all-time appearances record for a pitcher, as Durski appeared in his 81st career game, throwing one inning in relief.
The Yotes (3-4) also saw another career day from left fielder Kris Kirpatrick, who recorded a career best four hits in the win, driving in the first run of the contest. Kirkpatrick would finish a perfect 4-4.
Chandler Stocking,
Matthew Iwamizu, and
Jordan Kelly would also record multiple hits in the contest, with Iwamizu driving in a team-high two runs.
In the first inning, Kirkpatrick would drive in his only run in the contest, scoring Stocking to get the Yotes on the board early. The Yotes offense wouldn't strike again until the sixth, where Iwamizu would drive in both of his runs on a single to center field, scoring Kelly and Kirkpatrick. In the bottom of the seventh, the Yotes would score once again on a
Jordan Kelly double to right field, as they would take a four-run lead into the eighth inning.
The Warriors (3-4) would answer back on an Ian Avalos single to center as Zane Parmenter would come across to score the first run of the game for Westcliff. The Yotes would respond in the eighth with a pair of runs on a pair of singles courtesy of Stocking and
Jack Ingraham. The Warriors would get one back in the ninth on a Parmenter single to right, as the game would end in a 6-2 score.
Nick Eliason was phenomenal for the Yotes on the mound, pitching seven innings of shutout baseball, while only allowing one hit and striking out four and earning his first win of the season. Durski would set his record, coming in relief in the eighth and throwing one inning while allowing just one and striking out one. For Westcliff, Eddie Rios was tabbed with the loss, pitching six innings and allowing three runs while striking out six batters.
The Yotes and Warriors will return to the diamond on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon.
