CALDWELL, Idaho – The College of Idaho baseball team delivered a pair of statement wins on Sunday, blanking Central Washington University 7-0 at Wolfe Field and then fending off a late rally to win 14-10 in the night cap. The Yotes used a high powered offense and timely defense to win their opening home series of the season
GAME 3: College of Idaho 7 ,Central Washington 0: The first victory of the day marks the Yotes' first shutout since 2022 and showcased their explosive offense, stellar pitching, and relentless defense.
The Yotes broke through in the fifth inning when James Hull crossed the plate on a defensive miscue by Central Washington's catcher. From there, the floodgates opened. In the sixth inning, Austin Moon ripped a clutch double down the left-field line to bring in Brandon Faire, followed by a two-run blast off the bat of Pete Bacon, extending the lead to 4-0. The onslaught continued as Brandon Faire and Jace Mahlke added RBIs in the later innings, cementing the Yotes' commanding advantage.
While the bats came alive, College of Idaho's pitching staff silenced the Wildcats. Nate Vidlak set the tone, dominating over five innings with six strikeouts while allowing just one hit. Grant Jakobson and Jacob Lewis combined for four more shutout frames, limiting Central Washington to just two hits for the game. Jacob Lewis closed the door in the ninth with a double play, sealing the shutout in emphatic fashion.
Leading the offensive charge, Ben Gaff (2-for-5) and James Hull (2-for-3) each had multiple hits, while Cannon Morgan, Brandon Faire, and Austin Moon contributed key RBIs. The Yotes tallied 10 hits on the day, showcasing their ability to produce runs up and down the lineup.
GAME 4: College of Idaho 14, Central Washington 10: The College of Idaho Yotes erupted for an early lead and never looked back, holding off a late rally from Central Washington University to secure a 14-10 victory at Wolfe Field.
From the outset, the Yotes' offense was firing on all cylinders. A three-run second inning, highlighted by a clutch two-RBI single from Connor Olsen, put the home team on the board. The Yotes kept the pressure on, adding two more in the third before a dominant six-run fourth inning put them firmly in control. Austin Moon delivered the knockout blow, blasting a bases-clearing double down the left-field line, plating three runs and giving the Yotes a commanding 9-0 lead.
Moon finished the day 3-for-3 with four RBIs, while Jack Ingraham led the charge at the top of the lineup, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. Cannon Morgan, Darren Smith, and Sky Palmer each chipped in with timely hits, ensuring the Yotes' lead remained comfortable through the middle innings.
On the mound, Caden Casagrande was nearly untouchable, tossing four no-hit innings with five strikeouts before handing the ball to the bullpen. The Wildcats, down 13-5 entering the eighth, put together a furious comeback attempt, plating three in the eighth and two more in the ninth before the Yotes shut the door.
With the victory, the Yotes win the series against the WIldcats 3-1 and improve to 6-2 on the season and maintain momentum heading into next week's home series against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. First pitch is set for Wednesday, February 14, at 2 p.m. at Wolfe Field.
