CALDWELL, Idaho - The College of Idaho softball team took care of business in Cascade Conference play Friday, sweeping Corban in a doubleheader at Symms Field to secure the series win.
The Yotes (23-15, 8-9 CCC) leaned on pitching and timely hitting in the opener before breaking things open offensively in game two, earning a 2-0 win followed by an 8-2 victory.
In game one, the Yotes scratched across just enough offense behind a dominant outing from Kina Watts. Watts tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing five hits and striking out three while walking just one.
College of Idaho manufactured its two runs early, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single from Chloe Flerchinger that plated Isabella Fazzio. The Yotes added an insurance run in the third when Watts helped her own cause with an RBI single to score Kate Crosby.
That was all Watts needed, as she kept Corban off the scoreboard throughout, working out of a handful of scattered threats to secure the shutout.
Game two saw a much different script, as Corban took advantage of a pair of Yotes errors to grab a 2-0 lead through four innings without recording an RBI.
The Yotes responded in a big way in the bottom of the fourth, erupting for four runs to take control. Chloe Flerchinger delivered a two-run double to tie the game before Kamryn Ham followed with a two-run single to give College of Idaho a 4-2 advantage.
The offensive surge continued in the fifth, where the Yotes plated four more runs to put the game out of reach. Madelyn Powell started the inning with an RBI double, Hallie Campbell added a two-run double, and Ham capped the frame with another RBI single.
Ham finished with a team-high three RBIs, while Campbell and Flerchinger each drove in two runs as part of a balanced nine-hit attack.
Drew Williams picked up the win in the circle, going the distance and allowing just four hits and two unearned runs while striking out three.
With the two victories, the Yotes secured the conference series over Corban heading into Saturday's final day. College of Idaho will wrap up the set with another CCC matchup before closing the weekend with a non-conference contest.
