CALDWELL, Idaho – College of Idaho softball extended its winning streak to six games Saturday, completing a four-game sweep over Bushnell with a 6-0 win in the series finale before closing the day with a 5-1 victory in a non-conference matchup at Symms Field. Despite Bushnell threatening multiple times, the Yotes' pitching and defense held firm, stranding key runners and denying the Beacons a chance to shift momentum.
The Yotes secured a 3-0 conference series sweep behind another dominant outing from Abbey Brooks (4-0), who tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing just two hits while striking out five. Offensively, Ashlynn Nixon sparked the attack with a solo home run in the fourth inning, while Madelyn Powell added two RBIs on a sacrifice fly and a sixth-inning single.
Bushnell had chances early but couldn't capitalize, leaving two runners stranded in the first and three more in the sixth after loading the bases. The Beacons saw Haleigh Wambolt and Violet Richardson record hits but couldn't break through against Brooks. Emily Cole (2-6) took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) in four innings before Alexis Perez finished the game in relief.
In the second game, a non-conference matchup, new faces in the Yotes lineup stepped up, but Bushnell again saw scoring chances slip away. The Beacons struck first with an RBI single from Ashlyn Martin in the opening frame and had an opportunity to extend their lead, putting runners on second and third with one out. However, a fielder's choice followed by a flyout ended the inning, a recurring theme for Bushnell throughout the day.
The Yotes quickly responded as Madelyn Powell's sacrifice fly tied the game, and Makayla Frias followed with an RBI double to bring in Kate Crosby, giving College of Idaho a 2-1 edge after one. In the third, Powell drove in Crosby again, and the Yotes took advantage of a Bushnell error in the fourth to pad the lead.
Bushnell threatened in the fifth, getting two runners aboard with one out, but reliever Drew Williams forced an infield pop-up before ending the inning with a strikeout. The Beacons left 11 runners on base in the loss.
Grace Neer (2-0) earned the win, throwing four innings while striking out one and allowing three hits. Williams closed with three dominant frames, surrendering just one hit while striking out one.
The Yotes outscored Bushnell 21-6 over the weekend and will carry their momentum into next week's Cascade Conference matchups.
