35 Runs and 35 Hits Enough for Yotes Sweep of Corban
CALDWELL, Idaho -- The College of Idaho pulled within one game of first-place in the NAIA Region I standings, pounding out 35 runs and 35 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Corban College, topping the visitors 19-14 and 16-1 at Simplot Stadium.
The wins for the Yotes (24-22, 15-6 Region I) sets up a three-game showdown with British Columbia for the right to host the regional tournament in two weeks - with The C of I needing a sweep of the series to bring the tourney to Caldwell.
Game 1 was a wild affair, as the Coyotes jumped out to an early 13-0 lead - getting four in the first, a seven-run third inning, keyed by two-run singles by Jacob Garsez and Bryan Champ and a two-run homer from Brad Carlsen, and a two-run double by Gavin Gamboa in the fourth.
The game was far from over, as the Warriors (9-29, 6-15) would rally, getting eight unearned runs in the fifth - taking advantage of four Yote errors in the frame, then four more in the sixth, including a three-run Daniel Flores homer, cutting the margin to 14-12.
Corban would get as close as 14-13, before the Yotes put the game away with a five-run seventh, capped by a Cody Brubaker two-run homer.
Joey Zubizarreta gutted out five innings to get the win, while Andrew Brock allowed just one earned run in four innings of relief to notch the save. Brubaker went 4-for-5 with four RBI, with Matt Mejia going 4-for-4 and Carlsen going 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Flores went 4-for-5 with four RBI in the loss.
Game 2 was all Coyotes, as seven different C of I pitchers tossed one inning each - allowing just six hits overall. The offense took advantage of seven hit by pitches and four walks, scoring the first 12 runs of the game to run away with the win.
Dane McGrady provided the big blow in a six-run first with a two-run double, with a Garrett Schultz two-run double in the second making it 9-0.
Brett Ward went 2-for-3 with four runs scored in the win - as six different Yotes had two hits in the lopsided win, while Justin Trammell had a 2-for-3 game, the lone Corban player to record multi-hits.
The Yotes return to action with their final non-conference games of the season, a twinbill Tuesday at Central Washington at noon.