Nickayla Skinner tossed nine shutout innings and went 6-for-7 in split with Concordia
CALDWELL, Idaho - Despite a banner day in the circle and at the plate by Nickayla Skinner, The College of Idaho squandered opportunities late in Game 2, as the Lady Yotes split a doubleheader with Concordia University at Symms Field.
The No. 22 ranked Lady Yotes (19-5, 2-2 CCC) won the opener, 4-0, but dropped the nightcap, 6-5.
Skinner was dominant in Game 1, tossing her second-straight shutout, allowing just two hits and fanning 12. She ran into trouble in the third, as the Cavaliers (9-11, 1-1) loaded the bases with one out - but got Tobey Varney to strike out and coaxed a pop-up from Kate Santos to get out of trouble. CU would get just one runner in scoring position the rest of the way.
The C of I took an early 2-0 lead in the first, as Alexis Macias laced a two-out, two-run single through the middle to give the hosts the edge. Rachael Strong added a solo homer in the fourth and Skinner smacked her third homer of the season in the fifth to cap the scoring. Both Strong and Skinner each had three hits in the victory.
Game 2 saw the Cavs take a quick 3-0 lead in the opening frame on the strength of a long three-run homer from Varney. The Yotes would get two back in the bottom of the inning on run-scoring singles from Skinner and Kristen Haugen. Allison Gunter blooped an RBI single into right in the second to give CU a 4-2 lead, while an inning later, the Cavaliers added two unearned runs on a bases loaded throwing error.
Julia Henrie got a run back for the Yotes in the fourth, hitting her third homer of the season to center (off the glove of CU centerfielder Jennifer Lutton, who was trying to rob the home run), then got a two-out bases loaded walk to Paige Gabiola and an RBI hit-by-pitch to Kaci Baldwin in the fifth to cut the margin to 6-5. However, reliever Ashley Suter got Kendall Pavey to fly out to end the threat. The Coyotes would load the bases with one out in the sixth, but Suter again danced out of trouble, getting back-to-back strikeouts of Haugen and Henrie to end the frame.
Sam Genskay, Jordyn Brown, and Gunter each had two hits for CU, with Lacey Romo going four-plus innings for her fourth win - while Suter notched her first save. Skinner continued her big day, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, with Nikki Shumway, Macias, and Henrie all recording two hits.
The Lady Yotes host Northwest Christian tomorrow at 11 a.m., then host Eastern Oregon on Sunday, also at 11 a.m.