CU's Tommy Whalen threw out a combined four base stealers and added a successful pick off in the doubleheader against C of I on Friday.
Pitching Powers C of I to Opening-Day Sweep
PORTLAND, Ore.—Headed by a combined 13 innings of work from Jesse Vermillion and Joshua Orr, The College of Idaho defeated Concordia 7-2 and 6-2 in an NAIA West Region doubleheader played at the University of Portland’s Joe Etzel Field on Friday.
With the results, C of I improved to 12-10 on the season and 2-4 in league play while Concordia fell to 6-1 overall and 2-4 in league action.
The two teams will continue the four-game series on Saturday with a noon start in Portland.
GAME 1
The Coyotes jumped out to a 4-0 lead after plating a pair of runners in both the second and third innings. Three singles and a walk led to the game’s first runs in the top of the second while Isaac Garsez rounded the bases for an inside-the-park 2-run homer to right-center to provide the spark in the third.
Concordia got on the board in the fourth with senior catcher Tommy Whalen drove a double to right to score Riley Tubbs, who reached on a double to left two batters earlier.
With the aid of four singles and a throwing error, C of I came back to score four runs in the fifth to break the game open for a 7-1 lead. The gap would be more than enough for C of I starter Vermillion as the sophomore lefty went eight full innings before teammate Levi Mitchum closed out the ninth in a non-save situation.
Vermillion struck out four and allowed four hits in the appearance. CU’s Josh Saio took the loss after allowing four earned runs in the first three innings. Garsez led the Yotes at the plate with a 3 for 4 performance that included two runs and two RBI. Jamel Lewis also went 3 for 4 at the plate and drove in a single run.
GAME 2
After C of I jumped out to an early lead with an RBI single to center by Garsez, Concordia scored a single run in three straight innings to take a 2-1 lead in the third and a 3-2 lead in the fourth.
Odie Hollingshed collected on an RBI single to right for the team’s first run while Tommy Whalen earned an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the third. Tim Reavis scored for the Cavaliers in the fourth after reaching on a double to left center.
Trailing by a run in the sixth, the Coyotes chased CU started Tyson Kisselburg by putting together four singles and eventually scoring four unearned runs to stake the 6-3 lead. Gavin Gamboa provided the biggest hit of the frame with a 2-run single to center.
Joshua Orr collected the win after hurling the final five innings in relief of starter Bobby Wassman. Orr scatted five hits and struck out a pair of hitters while allowing just one runner to cross the plate. Kisselburg pitched the first five innings for the Cavaliers before turning the ball over to Brett Ferguson.
C of I outhit Concordia 9-8 with Gamboa leading the charge with a 3 of 3 contest that included two runs and two RBI. Hollingshed was the lone Cavalier to notch multiple hits with a pair of singles and an RBI. Curt Cosby reached on his first three plate appearances with a single to shortstop joined by walking in the first and a reaching on an error in the third.