CALDWELL, Idaho - The College of Idaho went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position on the afternoon, as the University of British Columbia swept a chilly doubleheader, winning 5-1 and 3-2 at frigid Wolfe Field.
Game 1 saw the No. 10 ranked T-Birds (7-5, 4-0 NAIA West) jump out to a 3-0 lead in the opening frame, taking advantage of a trio of walks by C of I starter Todd Griffiths – using an RBI single from Kevin Nickel, an RBI groundout by Blake Carruthers, and a third run on a passed ball, to grab the lead. Trailing 4-0 in the second, the Yotes (7-7, 0-4) scored their lone run after an Izaac Garsez lead-off triple, as Kyle Douglas knocked him in with a ground out.
The C of I would have their chances late in the game, getting two runners on in both the seventh and eighth innings, but UBC pitchers worked out of the jams. Brandon Kaye allowed just five hits in seven innings to pick up the win, with Keaton Briscoe logging two hits, while Douglas had the lone multi-hit game for the Yotes.
Game 2 was an extra innings affair – as UBC plated two first inning runs off Mitch Dame, getting a Briscoe RBI single and a second run on a fielders’ choice. Dame would settle down, retiring 10 straight batters at one stretch.
After squandering a bases loaded chance in the second, the Yotes would tie the game up in the sixth – without the benefit of a hit. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases, with Gavin Gamboa being plunked to cut the margin to 2-1, with Jeffrey Harris following with a walk to knot the score.
Reliever Levi Mitchum was solid for the Yotes, striking out Mike Elias in the seventh with the go-ahead runs in scoring position, but could not get out of the ninth, as Carruthers reached on a dropped third strike and stole second. After intentionally walking Matt Spillman with two outs, Ryan Taylor golfed a 3-2 pitch into left for the game-winning RBI single. The C of I would get a runner to second in the bottom of the frame, but Douglas grounded out to end the contest.
Luke Webster got the win for UBC, going three and a third innings of scoreless relief, with Kevin Nickel the lone T-Bird with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4. Gamboa went 2-for-4 with a double in the loss for the Yotes, with Dame and Mitchum combining to fan eight.
The Coyotes return to action this week – hosting Montana State-Billings on Thursday and a four-game weekend series with Whitworth.