Todd Griffiths tossed a five-hit shutout for the Coyotes
AZUSA, Calif. - Todd Griffiths tossed a complete game five-hit shutout, helping The College of Idaho within one win of their first trip to the AVISTA-NAIA World Series since 2002, defeating rival Menlo College, 7-0, the the semifinal round of the NAIA National Championships Opening Round.
The Coyotes (40-18), who recorded their ninth 40-win season in program history with the victory, will meet the winner of Azusa Pacific and Menlo, tomorrow at 5 p.m. (PT)
The senior, from Meridian, was dominant, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning - striking out a career-high nine batters. Griffiths was helped by his defense, as double plays ended Oaks (31-26) threats in both the seventh and ninth innings.
The Yotes jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, as Tanner Hodges lined an RBI single in the opening frame, with the lead extended to 3-0 in the fourth, on a two-out, two-run single by Tyler Andazola. The C of I would add a Jarel Lewis two-run home run in the seventh to make it 5-0, plating two runs in the eighth - as Brett Ward scored on a wild pitch, another scoring on a Lewis RBI double.
Lewis went 3-for-5 with three RBI in the win, with Ward going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Zach Fabricius had two hits and a trio of runs scored - as the Yotes piled up 12 hits.
No Menlo player had more than one hit - with Derek Martinez allowing five earned runs in the loss.