Haley Butcher provided key hit in Lady Yotes 2-1 win over SFU
C of I Upsets No. 14 Simon Fraser to Open Region I Tournament
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Katie Zillner threw a complete game four-hitter, striking out ten batters, as The College of Idaho upset top-seeded and No. 14 ranked Simon Fraser, 2-1, in the opening game of the 2008 NAIA Region I Tournament at Owl Field.
With the win, the fourth-seeded Lady Yotes (25-17) move on in the winner's bracket, meeting today's winner between Oregon Tech and Concordia at 4 p.m. this afternoon. It was the first win for The C of I in 21 meetings against SFU - and avenged a pair of championship game losses to the Clan in the 2007 regional tourney.
The Yotes broke a scoreless dual in the fourth inning, as Zillner reached on a one-out infield single, moving to second on a Dani Villyard walk. Haley Butcher followed with an RBI double that scooted past Clan (14-8) centerfielder Chrissy Harris, allowing Zillner to score. Villyard would score on a Stacy Smith ground out to make it 2-0.
SFU would strike back, getting a Carolyn Bell RBI single in the bottom of the frame, with the Clan loading the bases with one out. However, Zillner got Carly Moir to hit a comebacker, getting the second out at home plate, then coaxed a Heather Reiss fly out to center to escape the threat - as the senior retired the final 11 batters in a row to pick up her 15th win of the season.