CALDWELL, Idaho – A dramatic day of softball at Symms Field saw the College of Idaho Yotes endure a tough opening game before storming back with a gritty victory in game two. After weather conditions forced the postponement of their season opener, the Yotes took the field for a doubleheader against Embry-Riddle (AZ) on Saturday, splitting the contests in front of an eager home crowd.
GAME ONE: EMBRY-RIDDLE 11, COLLEGE OF IDAHO 3
A disastrous third inning spelled doom for the Yotes in their season opener as Embry-Riddle erupted for 10 runs, capitalizing on defensive miscues to take control of the game. Of the 10 runs scored, five were unearned as errors extended the inning and allowed the Eagles to break the game wide open.
Despite the early struggles, the Yotes showed fight in the fourth inning when Madelyn Powell, Hallie Campbell, and Makayla Frias each drove in runs to put three on the board. Powell's RBI single was followed by a Campbell triple, bringing some life to the home side. However, the deficit proved too great to overcome, and the Eagles tacked on another run in the fifth for the final margin. Embry-Riddle's offensive onslaught, highlighted by a three-run homer from J. Bayless, set the tone for the visitors' dominant victory.
GAME TWO: COLLEGE OF IDAHO 3, EMBRY-RIDDLE 1
Refusing to let the opening loss define their day, the Yotes bounced back with a determined performance in game two, earning their first victory of the season behind a masterful pitching effort from Abbey Brooks.
Abbey Brooks determined to change the course of the day, fired a complete-game gem, scattering six hits while striking out five. She worked around seven walks but remained poised in key moments, stranding 12 Eagle baserunners to keep her team in front. She threw the ball 132 times from the circle while she and her defense only gave up one run in an error-less contest.
The Yotes found their offensive spark in the third inning when Kamryn Ham ripped a double to center field, driving in the game-tying run. The Yotes then took the lead in the fifth, capitalizing on an error to bring home pinch runner Kate Crosby. The insurance run came in the sixth as Campbell laced an RBI single down the right-field line, securing the 3-1 victory.
With a split on opening day, the Yotes (1-1) will look to build on their strong game-two performance as they continue their early-season slate. Up next, they remain at Symms Field for another home double header contest tomorrow starting at noon MT.
