KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. — The College of Idaho opened the Cascade Conference Championship with a split on Friday, earning a 5-2 win over British Columbia before falling 1-0 in a tightly contested matchup against top-seeded Oregon Tech.
With the double-elimination format, the Yotes remain alive in the tournament and will face Simpson in an elimination game Saturday at 10 a.m. MT.
The Yotes (31-19) started the day strong in the opener, using a three-run third inning to power past British Columbia. After the teams traded runs in the second, College of Idaho broke through as Kamryn Ham sparked the rally with a single and stolen base. Madelyn Powell followed with an RBI double, and Chloe Flerchinger added a run-scoring single as the Yotes capitalized on a Thunderbird error to build a 4-1 advantage.
British Columbia answered with a solo home run from Lauren Hounsell in the third, but the Yotes added an insurance run in the fifth when Isabella Fazzio drove in Kina Watts to secure the 5-2 lead.
Kina Watts was dominant in relief, earning the win after tossing 4.2 shutout innings while allowing six hits and striking out three. Drew Williams started and allowed two runs in 2.1 innings. Offensively, Powell, Flerchinger and Ham each recorded two hits, while four different Yotes drove in runs. The defense also held firm, stranding 12 UBC runners.
In the second game, the Yotes went toe-to-toe with No. 1 seed Oregon Tech in a pitching duel but were unable to push a run across in a 1-0 loss.
The Owls scored the game's lone run in the third inning on an RBI fielder's choice from Puakea Milbourne, plating Nita Cook after a leadoff single and a pair of walks.
College of Idaho threatened multiple times but could not capitalize, finishing with four hits. Lena Zahniser, Chloe Flerchinger, Hallie Campbell and Ham each recorded a hit, while the Yotes were turned away by Oregon Tech pitcher Kristine Schmidt, who tossed a complete-game shutout.
Despite the loss, the Yotes showcased stellar defense and pitching throughout. Williams and Watts combined to allow just one run on five hits, working around six walks to keep the top seed within reach. Oregon Tech stranded eight runners, as College of Idaho made key defensive plays to prevent further damage.
Now in the elimination bracket, the Yotes will need to win five consecutive games to claim the conference title. Despite the uphill path, College of Idaho remains in contention and will look to carry its momentum into Saturday morning's matchup against Simpson.
