CALDWELL, Idaho - Izaac Garsez went 5-for-6 with two doubles and two RBI, helping The College of Idaho open NAIA West play with a doubleheader sweep of Simpson University, winning 6-4 and 12-4, at sunny Wolfe Field.
The Coyotes (15-4, 2-0) pounded out 24 hits in the twinbill, getting solid starting pitching from Chad Yeggy and Joshua Orr to run their win streak to four games.
The C of I took a quick 2-0 lead in the opening frame of Game 1, as Garsez rocketed an RBI single through the right side, scoring on a Tanner Hodges sacrifice fly. The lead would be extended to 4-0 in the third on a two-run Jesse Dodd single.
After retiring the first nine men in order, Yeggy allowed a leadoff double to Josh Corson, with Angel Marti following with a run-scoring single to get the Redhawks (9-9, 0-2) on the board. The California nine would get within 4-2 in the sixth, scoring a run on a failed pickoff at third by C of I catcher, Cameron Packham.
The Yotes would score single runs in the sixth and seventh, as Todd Griffiths blooped an RBI double and Hodges lined an RBI single. SU would chase Yeggy in the eighth after a Garrett Barnett RBI single, but following a Daveron Ross RBI single, Michael Garza got the final four outs to pick up his first save.
Yeggy notched his fourth win of the season, allowing just six hits and fanning three. Garsez went 3-for-3 with three runs scored, with Dodd adding a pair of hits for the Yotes. Corson had two hits for the Redhawks, with starter Scott McKeen going the distance, allowing 10 hits and striking out three.
Game 2 saw SU grab the early edge on a second inning Graig Longergan RBI single. The Yotes quickly countered on a Jeffrey Harris RBI single, and after stealing second and third, scored on a bounding ball that was bobbled by Kris Warner at short.
The Coyotes broke the game open in the third, as Garsez legged out a two-out infield single that scored Tyler Andazola from third. Jarel Lewis lined a double off the centerfield wall to score Garsez, with Hodges and Harris adding run-scoring singles to push the lead to 6-1. Harris would have the big blast in a four-run fifth, clubbing his first home run in a C of I uniform.
It was enough for Orr, who allowed seven hits in six innings of work, striking out six, to pick up his fourth win. Harris went 3-for-3 with four RBI, Lewis went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI, with Garsez adding two hits.
Matthew Alton went 2-for-4 with two RBI for SU, with Marti and Corson each adding two hits.
The final two games of the series are tomorrow, with the doubleheader set for 11 a.m.