Chad Yeggy tossed eight strong innings in Game 1
CALDWELL, Idaho - Chad Yeggy tossed eight strong innings and Tanner Hodges had four hits in the opener, but C.J. Ketron held The College of Idaho to just three hits in the nightcap, as the Yotes and Dickinson State split a doubleheader at Wolfe Field.
The Coyotes (11-3) won the opener, 10-1, extending their win streak to nine games, but DSU grabbed a 4-1 win in Game 2.
Yeggy was outstanding for the Yotes, allowing just four hits in his longest outing of the season - retiring 15 of 16 batters at one stretch. The senior walked just one, hit a man, and struck out four.
The Yotes used their speed in the opener, stealing eight bags. Tyler Andazola led off the first with a single, stole second, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a wild pitch. After the Blue Hawks (1-4) tied the score on an Erik Bastio RBI single in the second, the hosts used a three-run third - including a Hodges bunt RBI single, to take a 4-1 lead. Nick Muncy slapped an RBI single through the left side in the fifth to make it 5-1, Back to back doubles by Andazola and Jeffrey Harris in the sixth, followed by a Hodges RBI single made it 7-1, with a three run seventh capping the scoring.
Andazola went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, with Muncy and Brett Ward each recording two hits. Zach Griffith went 2-for-4 for DSU, with starter Ryan Crossingham going six-plus innings, allowing 11 hits, but striking out eight.
The Yotes took an early 1-0 lead in Game 2, as Andazola doubled off the left field wall and scored on a Zach Fabricius sacrifice fly - but Ketron handcuffed the Yotes the rest of the way. The right-hander allowed just one runner to reach third the rest of the way, getting some help by some timely defensive gems, to earn his first win.
A two-out rally in the second gave DSU the lead for good, as Bastio singled to left and stole second. Jon Mendoza singled him home to tie the game. Ryan Riesse singled off the side of the mound, with the runners moving up on a wild pitch, with Tanner Newman following with a slow roller into the hole at short, beating Hodges' throw across the diamond to score Mendoza for the 2-1 lead. The Blue Hawks would make it 3-1 in the fifth on a two-out Derek Carley single, then tack on an unearned run in the sixth. The Coyotes had the tying run at the plate in the sixth, but pinch hitter Jarel Lewis flew out to the warning track in left center.
Mendoza went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Justin Elizando went 2-for-4 in the win for DSU, while Andazola went 2-for-2 in the loss for The C of I.
Game 3 of the weekend series is tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.