CALDWELL, Idaho – The No. 20 College of Idaho softball team put the finishing touches on its home campaign with a doubleheader sweep of No. 13 Southern Oregon on Saturday. The day saw the Yotes blank the visiting Raiders by a 1-0 margin on the strength of a two-hit shutout by senior
Annie Polster. The win secured the series for College of Idaho. In the nightcap, it was a 4-2 in favor of the host Yotes.
The doubleheader sweep for College of Idaho raises its record to 31-11, 19-4 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference. Southern Oregon fell to 32-13, 18-6 in the CCC with the doubleheader sweep by C of I.
Game one was a duel between Polster, the C of I starter and her counterpart from SOU, Katie Machado in a rematch of Friday's series opener.
The contest saw College of Idaho strand a pair of baserunners in the second and third inning before getting on the scoreboard in the fifth. With one out, grad student
Hattie Hruza dropped a down just inside the right field foul line. Then, sophomore shortstop
Lolo Walker brought in Hruza with a single to the gap in right-center field.
The one run was just enough for Polster as the Raiders stranded the game-tying run in the final two innings. Polster picked up her third strikeout to end the game.
The nightcap saw College of Idaho score a run in the first, second and fifth for a 3-0 lead. The Raiders cut into the lead with a two-RBI single in the top of the sixth. The Yotes picked up an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth for the final margin.
Grad student
Lexi Navarrete and senior
Madison Kinsey each had two hits to lead the C of I offense in their final home game. The offensive efforts were enough for C of I starter
Grace Neer to get the win and
Ambrie Jones retired the final batter with the tying run at the plate for the save.
Following the game, College of Idaho recognized its seniors and grad students, who were playing in their final home games. The tireless contributions were recognized and celebrated in front of friends and family.
