CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho Yotes took game one at home against Eastern Oregon 4-2 but came up short in game two falling 7-4 to the Mountaineers.
Both clubhouses struggled to find fourth until the fifth inning. The Mountaneers struck first in the top of the fifth with a lead-off solo homer by Tommy Whiles. Chase Nett's sacrifice allowed Tyler Balkenbush to score from third. The Yotes responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to knot it up. A
Ben Gaff triple down the left field line allow
Chandler Stocking to reach home from first to get the Yotes on the board.
Jack Ingraham then hit a single by finding the gap between the centerfielder and right fielder to advance Gaff one more for the score. A pair of scores by the Yotes in the sixth and the eight were never responded to by the Mountaineers giving the Yotes the 4-2 win.
Chandler Stocking and
Jack Ingraham co-led the Yotes with a pair of hits each. The Mountaineers were co-led by Tomm Whiles who had a pair of hits as well as Rogelio Gonzales.
Dawson Cummins started and pitched six innings to get his first win of the season. He struck out three Mountaineers.
In game two, the Mountaineers capitalized by scoring off a runner that reached on an error after a Mario Landeros connection got the runner from first out at second but saw Patrick Cumberlan score. The visitors scored again in the third before the home side found three runners find fourth in the fourth. A
Dillon Danner single to right field allowed
Kris Kirkpatrick and
Darren Smith to tie the game.
Trevor Watkins found his way from second to fourth after a
Jordan Kelly single. The Yotes lead would be temporary as the Mountaineers would score in the next three innings including a pair of runs in the seventh. The Yotes' bats couldn't keep up and the hosts feel 7-4 in the nightcap.
Eight Mountaineers earned hits and were led by Danny Burns who got a pair. Joey Freitas two run homer and Youhyeon Choi's triple were the most explosive plays in the nightcap. Three Yotes got a pair of hits;
Jordan Kelly,
Darren Smith, and
Dillon Danner all got two hits. Will Seslar fanned five batters in six innings of work in his win.
The Yotes and Mountaineers continue their series with a doubleheader tomorrow at Wolfe Field that starts at 11 am. Eight graduating Yotes will be honored between games. It will be the last day of games for the Yotes.