Jody Zillner broke three school records in the victory
Yotes Stop UV-Wise, Lose Out on Tiebreaker
DECATUR, Ala. - Haley Butcher scored on a passed ball in the second inning for the lone run of the game, as The College of Idaho knocked off Virginia-Wise, 1-0, on the final day of pool play at the NAIA Women's World Series.
The win pulled the Lady Yotes (34-18) into a three-way tie atop Pool H with Bethel (Ind.) and Martin Methodist (Tenn.). Tiebreak rules were not published by the NAIA, however, The C of I lost out on the second tiebreaker (run differential - as Bethel had a +3, MMC even, and the Yotes -3). After starting the process over with two teams, MMC earning the bracket play berth by winning the first tiebreaker (head-to-head win over Bethel). They will join Cal Baptist, Lubbock Christian, Dickinson State, Point Loma Nazarene, Notre Dame, Oklahoma City, and St. Gregory's in tomorrow's quarterfinals.
Jody Zillner set a trio of school records in winning her 22nd game of the year - establishing a new mark for shutouts in a season with seven, a new single-season strikeout mark with 246, and lowered her ERA to a school record 1.35. The junior allowed just four hits and fanned eight in the victory.
Butcher reached on a dropped fly ball by Cavaliers (31-19) right fielder Brittany Tunnell, taking second on the error. After a Stacy Smith single, the senior scampered home when a Lauren Snead pitch eluded catcher Mary Wilson.
UV-Wise had a chance in the seventh, putting runners and second and third with two outs, but Brittany Bennett popped up to end the game.
Smith had two hits for the Lady Yotes, while Hannah Ellis went 3-for-3 in the loss for the Cavaliers.