Gavin Gamboa had the game-winning single for the Coyotes
LEWISTON, Idaho - Gavin Gamboa singled up the middle to cap a three-run eighth inning rally, helping The College of Idaho to a come-from-behind 6-5 victory over Concordia University in the consolation game at the Blue Cross of Idaho Tournament at Harris Field.
The Yotes (2-2) trailed 5-3 heading into the eighth, but leadoff man, Jared Arehart was hit by a pitch and Diego Robles singled. After the duo moved up on a wild pitch, Ray Santiago singled to make it a one-run game. Pinch hitter Alex Reyes followed with a single, scoring Robles, with Santiago taking third and Reyes second, due to an error. Gamboa the ripped the single through the box, picking up Santiago for the game-winner.
Ben Rodwell got the win, working a scoreless eighth, with Jesse Vermillion working around an error in the ninth to pick up his first career save.
The Cavaliers (1-3) scored a pair of unearned runs in the second to grab an early 2-0 lead, before Santiago led off the second with his first career homer, to get the Yotes within a run. CU would add two runs in the third, before the Yotes answered with Gamboa drawing a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the frame to pull within 4-2, with a Izaac Garsez long ball in the fourth making it 4-3.
Brett Dvorak was solid in relief for the Yotes, tossing four innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts, with his lone mistake a Tim Reavis RBI single in the seventh, giving the Cavs a 5-3 lead.
The two teams struggled bringing runners home all day - with the Yotes stranding 15 men, CU stranding 13.
Santiago and Gamboa each had two hits in the win for the Coyotes, while Tony Flanagan went 3-for-4 in the loss for the Cavaliers.
The Coyotes return home to begin an eight-game homestand next weekend. The C of I will play a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday vs. Whitman, and a single-game vs. Oregon Tech - all starting at Noon at Wolfe Field. On Feb. 27-28, Whitworth comes to town for three-games, a doubleheader, followed by a single game - also at Noon.