Izaac Garsez hit the go-ahead home run in win over Menlo
ATHERTON, Calif. - The College of Idaho made it 2-for-2 on the opening day of the Verizon Wireless NAIA West Grouping Qualifying Tournament, rallying for a 9-7 victory over Patten University in the tourney opener, then getting an eighth inning two-run homer from Izaac Garsez to dispatch top-seed Menlo College, 5-4, in the late game at Cartan Field.
With the wins, the Yotes (31-19) move into tomorrow’s semifinal match-up against rival British Columbia at Noon (PT). UBC defeated Simpson University, 4-0, in today’s second game. Fans can listen to the game online at http://www.pennatlantic.com.
In the opener, the Yotes took advantage of four errors, three walks, and a hit-by-pitch, as The C of I erased a 6-0 Patten University lead in the middle innings and opened the NAIA West Grouping Tournament with a come-from-behind victory.
Miscues cost the Yotes early in the contest, as the Lions (23-28) plated four runs in the second inning. A double play ball was booted by Tanner Hodges, prolonging the inning, as Michael McReynolds slapped a two-run single, with Joe Salazar and David Whiteside adding run scoring hits. Patten would push the lead to 6-0 in the fourth, as a throwing error by Todd Griffiths kept the inning alive, with Whiteside knocking in a pair with a double in the right field corner.
However, the Yotes returned the favor in the sixth, as Jarel Lewis reached on an error by third-baseman Denis O’Connor and McReynolds dropped a fly ball by Garsez. Kyle Douglas followed with a long home run to left field, his seventh of the year, to cut the margin in half.
An inning later, the Yotes batted around for six runs – as pinch hitter Anthony Pawelek walked and Jordan Lanman singled. Jeffrey Harris put down a perfect bunt single, but the throw went down the first base line, allowing Pawelek to score. After a walk to Lewis, Garsez hit a ball deep to left that was lost in the sun by McReynolds, bouncing for a ground rule double to tie the game. Tanner Hodges would give the Yotes the lead with a bases loaded walk, Griffiths would plate a run on a fielders’ choice, and Brett Ward lifted a sacrifice fly to make it 9-6.
It was enough for Bobby Wassmann, who tossed a gutsy eight innings, allowing seven runs, only two of which were earned, striking out five, to pick up his second postseason win in as many years. Chad Yeggy tossed a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save.
Garsez, Griffiths, and Lanman each had two hits for the Coyotes, who won despite four errors. Whiteside went 3-for-5 in the loss for the Lions, who wasted six strong innings by starter Isaac Duran.
Game 2 started with a bang, as the Oaks (32-15-1) Joe Hull lined a leadoff home run to left off Coyote starter, Mitch Dame. The Yotes would come right back, as Hodges lined an RBI single in the bottom of the frame to tie the score.
Hull would strike again, lining a one-out homer in the third to give Menlo the lead, but Lewis matched the effort with his second home run of the season in the bottom of the inning to knot the game at 2-2. The Oaks would regain the lead in the fourth, as C.J. Dailey lined a two-run single to give Menlo the 4-2 cushion – but the lead would not last. Lanman got The C of I within a run in the seventh with an RBI single, but the tying run was gunned down at the plate to end the inning.
However, the Yotes would not be denied in the eighth, as Lewis was plunked by a pitch and Garsez greeted reliever Kyer Vega with a mammoth home run to right, his seventh of the season, to give The C of I their first lead.
Dame did the rest, allowing just one hit after the fourth inning, to improve to 9-0 on the season. Lewis, Garsez, and Hodges each had two hits in the win. Hull, Paul Oakley, and Michael Brandi each had two hits for Menlo.