CHICKASHA, Okla. – The College of Idaho opened the NAIA Softball National Championship in style Monday afternoon, using a pair of big innings to defeat LSU Alexandria, 7-4, in the Chickasha Opening Round.

The Yotes (35-20) tallied six RBIs on nine hits and rode a complete-game effort from Kina Watts to secure the win and advance in the winner's bracket.

After falling behind 1-0 in the second, College of Idaho answered in the third with a three-run surge. Madelyn Powell tied the game with an RBI single, Lena Zahniser followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home another, and Isabella Fazzio capped the inning with an RBI double to give the Yotes a 3-1 lead.

LSU Alexandria responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to reclaim a 4-3 advantage, but the Yotes quickly flipped the momentum for good in the fifth. Audrey Sweet launched a solo home run to even the score, before Chloe Flerchinger delivered an RBI single to put C of I back in front. Hallie Campbell then broke the game open with a two-run double, driving in both Flerchinger and Fazzio to make it 7-4.

Sweet, Powell, Zahniser, Fazzio, Flerchinger, and Campbell each recorded an RBI in the win, highlighting a balanced offensive attack for the Yotes.

From there, it was all Watts in the circle. The right-hander went the distance, allowing just one earned run while scattering seven hits and keeping LSU Alexandria off the scoreboard over the final four innings.

In the seventh, Kamryn Ham shut the door herself in center field, recording all three outs in the frame to seal the victory and send the Yotes into the next round.

With the win, College of Idaho advances in the winner's bracket and will face the winner of USAO and Morningside on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. Mountain Time (3 p.m. CT) in Chickasha.