CALDWELL, Idaho - A diving catch on a sinking line-drive by Tyler Anderson thwarted a second College of Idaho come-from-behind attempt, as Concordia University salvaged the final game of the four game series, 5-4 – after the Yotes rallied to win the opener in 11 innings, 7-6, at Wolfe Field.
The No. 23 ranked Coyotes (29-11, 19-5 NAIA West) trailed 5-3 heading into their final at bat, but got a one-out triple from Izaac Garsez and an RBI ground out by Kyle Douglas to get within a run. Jarel Lewis roped a single into left and Jared Arehart was hit by a pitch. Ben Rosen, who hit a pinch-hit two-run homer to tie the opener in the bottom of the ninth inning, lined a 1-2 change-up down the left field line, where Anderson, who came in the game as a defensive substitute two innings earlier, made a fully-extended play on the ball, plucking it off the grass to save the game for the Cavs (9-27, 5-15).
A Douglas single and a Gavin Gamboa sacrifice fly in the first gave the Yotes a 2-0 lead, but the Cavaliers rallied, getting an RBI single from Chris Jaime and a double steal in the fourth to tie the game, then getting a long two-run homer from Andrew Reid in the fifth to make it 4-2. Jaime would add an RBI infield single later in the frame to give CU a three-run cushion.
The Yotes would get a run back in the sixth on a Jesse Dodd sacrifice fly, but Tyler Andazola struck out with a runner at second to end the threat.
Jaime went 3-for-4 for the Cavaliers, while Garsez went 3-for-4 for the Yotes.
Game 1 saw CU take a 6-3 lead in the seventh inning on a Tim Reavis sacrifice fly and a Tim Flanagan RBI single, but the Coyotes rallied. Douglas roped an RBI single in the seventh to draw within a run, the Rosen launched his tape-measure homer with one-out in the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
After stranding the bases loaded in the tenth, the Yotes won it an inning later, as Tyler Andazola walked and Douglas was hit by a pitch. Lewis ended the game with an RBI single off the left-centerfield wall, The C of I’s fifth come-from-behind win against the Cavs.
Douglas went 4-for-5 with two RBI and Jordan Lanman added three hits for the Yotes. Mitch Dame tossed four and two-third innings of two-hit ball to notch the win. Curt Cosby and Jon Houts each had two hits for the Cavs.
The Coyotes, now three games behind front-running British Columbia in the NAIA West North Division standings, hosts Corban College in a four-game series next Friday-Saturday, before a showdown with the Thunderbirds in Caldwell, May 1-2.