CALDWELL, Idaho — College of Idaho baseball delivered an offensive clinic on Friday, overpowering Embry-Riddle (AZ) with a 12-4 win in Game 1 before outlasting the Eagles in a wild 17-14 slugfest in Game 2 at Wolfe Field.
Game 1: Early Lead and Shutdown Relief Propel Yotes
The Yotes wasted no time setting the tone in the opener, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. After Ben Gaff singled and Cannon Morgan doubled him home, Autin Moon blasted a two-run homer to left, putting the Yotes in control. Embry-Riddle responded with a three-run second inning to tie the game, capitalizing on a ground-rule double and an error, but the Yotes quickly reclaimed the lead in the bottom half when James Hull drove in a run on a fielder's choice.
From there, the Yotes methodically extended their lead. Gaff's RBI single in the fourth made it 5-4, Jack Ingraham doubled home another run in the fifth, and a flurry of late-inning insurance runs—including a two-run single from Darren Smith in the seventh—sealed the win. On the mound, Oliver Massie battled through four innings, allowing three earned runs, before handing the ball to Jackson Cummins, who dominated in relief with five scoreless innings to secure the victory.
Game 2: Yotes Explode for 12-Run Inning, Hold Off Late Rally
The nightcap quickly turned into a rollercoaster. College of Idaho grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the second on an RBI double from Gaff and a ground-rule double from Smith, but Embry-Riddle stormed ahead with a six-run fourth inning, taking advantage of defensive miscues and timely hitting. The Yotes, however, responded with an offensive eruption of their own, plating 12 runs in the bottom of the frame to blow the game open.
The rally was fueled by patience at the plate and aggressive baserunning. Walks drawn by Gaff, Morgan, and Brandon Faire forced in runs, Moon and Ingraham added RBI hits, and Connor Olsen delivered the biggest blow with a bases-clearing single that turned into a three-run play thanks to an error in left field. When the dust settled, the Yotes led 14-6. The team also managed to take over the Cascade Collegiate Conference record for walks in a single game with 20 batters walked.
Embry-Riddle refused to go quietly, striking for six runs in the seventh to trim the deficit. Nelson's two-run single and Warren's RBI base hit kept the pressure on, but the Yotes' bullpen managed to hold firm. After tacking on three more runs, College of Idaho saw its lead shrink to three in the ninth, but Grant Jakobson shut the door, stranding a runner to secure the hard-fought win.
With a relentless offensive attack and key performances across the lineup, College of Idaho continues to build momentum heading into the weekend.
