LA GRANDE, Ore. - The (RV) College of Idaho softball team put together its most complete day of the season Friday, using a late comeback and a power-filled offensive surge to sweep No. 1 Eastern Oregon and secure its first Cascade Collegiate Conference series victory of the year.
Facing one of the toughest opening stretches in the conference comprised of solely top-10 opponents including a previous No. 1 in Southern Oregon, the Yotes (14-10, 3-5 CCC) broke through in a big way, earning their third win over a top-ranked team this season.
The day opened with instant adversity, as Eastern Oregon jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning of Game 1. College of Idaho responded quickly, stringing together quality at-bats in the second as Kina Watts delivered a two-run double and Lena Zahniser followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to one. Marti Anderson tied the game in the third with a solo home run, continuing what would become a standout day at the plate.
After Eastern Oregon regained a 7-4 lead in the fifth, the Yotes again refused to back down. In the seventh, Madelyn Powell launched a two-run home run to bring College of Idaho within one before Anderson tied the game with her second homer of the contest. Later in the inning, Kamryn Ham lifted a sacrifice fly that, paired with a Mountaineer error, brought home the go-ahead run and completed the 8-7 comeback victory.
Anderson led the charge in the opener, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, while Powell and Watts each drove in two. Rylee Smith earned the win in relief and Watts closed the door to secure the upset.
That momentum carried seamlessly into Game 2, and this time, the Yotes left no doubt.
College of Idaho struck immediately, as Powell crushed a three-run home run in the first inning to set the tone. After adding another run in the third on an Anderson solo shot, the Yotes broke the game open in the fourth. A sacrifice fly extended the lead before Powell delivered the biggest swing of the day, a grand slam to push the advantage to 9-1.
Powell finished with seven RBI in the nightcap, while Anderson added her third home run of the doubleheader. At the top of the lineup, Kamryn Ham and Kina Watts each scored twice as the Yotes totaled nine runs on nine hits.
In the circle, Drew Williams was in control throughout, allowing just one run on three hits over five innings to secure the run-rule victory and complete the sweep.
With the pair of wins, the Yotes not only clinched the CCC series but did so in statement fashion, knocking off the top-ranked team in the nation on its home field and continuing a season trend of rising to the moment against elite competition.
