Kalie Kurdy's walk-off RBI single lifted Yotes to Game 1 win
CALDWELL, Idaho - A five-run seventh inning rally in Game 1 helped The College of Idaho earn a doubleheader split with Cascade Conference leading Oregon Tech, winning the opener, 5-4, but dropping the late game, 6-0, at a dreary Symms Field.
The visiting Owls (17-6, 3-1 CCC) were in command of the opener – getting a pair of first inning runs, one on a Ashleigh Larson RBI double off the centerfield wall, another on a Taylor Schmidt single. OIT would add to the lead in the sixth on a Larson two-run homer, her seventh of the year.
However, the wheels fell off in the seventh, as Jackie Imhof, who had a three-hit shutout going into the inning, loaded the bases with two outs. Hannah Johnson walked on five pitches to force in a run, with Nikki Shumway following with a ringing single into left field to cut the margin to 4-2. Kristen Haugen lined a base hit into center, scoring a pair to tie the game. Kalie Kurdy followed, roping a game-winning single into left to stun the Owls.
Nickayla Skinner got the win, striking out nine batters for her seventh victory, adding a 3-for-3 game at the plate, with Shumway going 2-for-4 for the Coyotes. Larson went 2-for-3 with three RBI for Tech.
Game 2 was dominated by Schmidt, who tossed a three-hit shutout, as the Owls used a five-run fourth inning rally to earn the split.
OIT took advantage of a pair of C of I errors in the first to plate an unearned run, then loaded the bases with one out in the fourth – with consecutive run-scoring singles from Sara Coates, Shauna Collins, and Andria Wheatley pushing the lead to 4-0. A sacrifice fly and a wild pitch would cap the scoring.
Schmidt struck out four in picking up her tenth win – allowing just three singles, with the Yotes not having a runner reach third base. Collins and Bree Larson each had two hits for OIT in the win.
The Lady Yotes return to action tomorrow morning, hosting Southern Oregon at 11 a.m.