Mitch Skaggs touching home plate after walkoff grand slam in Game 2
Walk Off Grand Slam Helps Yotes Split with Menlo
CALDWELL, Idaho – Mitch Skaggs crushed a walk-off grand slam homer in the bottom of the 11th inning, helping the College of Idaho split a doubleheader with Menlo College at Wolfe Field.
The Yotes (24-18, 15-11 NAIA West) rallied from a 6-0 hole to win Game 2, 10-6, after Menlo used a five-run third inning to win the opener, 5-1. C of I holds its own destiny for the No. 2 seed into the NAIA West Tournament – needing two wins tomorrow to earn the seed, while a loss would drop the team into the No. 4 slot and a first-round match-up with the same Menlo team.
After Mitch Viydo worked out of a first-and-third, no out jam in the top of the 11th, the first three C of I hitters reached in the bottom half. Troy Carr walked, moving to third on an error on a perfect Brady Mooney drag bunt single. After Chase Miller was intentionally walked to load the bases, Skaggs, who was 0-for-6 with three strikeouts prior to the at bat, launched the first Alex Davila pitch he saw deep over the left field wall to set off the celebration. It was the first walk-off homer by a C of I player since Luke Howarth hit a game-winner vs. Concordia in 2009.
The Oaks (25-24, 12-14) used a five-run second to take an early lead – as a two-out bases-clearing double by Nate Harris was the big blow. An inning later, Chris Freeman extended the lead to 6-0 with an RBI single.
C of I had chances, but Menlo starter Kyer Vega coaxed the Yotes into three early double play balls. The hosts chipped away, as a Gregg Simonds RBI single and a wild pitch got two runs back in the sixth. Two innings later, the Coyotes tied the score – getting a pinch-hit two-run double from Cole Mansanerez and a two-out, two-run single from Jake Hennessey.
Miller, Mooney, and Nick Muncy each had two hits for the Coyotes, with Viydo getting the win, allowing one hit and striking out three in three shutout innings of relief. Harris and Freeman were two of five Menlo players with two hits in the Game 2 loss.
Game 1 was dominated by the Oaks Daniel Chavez, as the righty tossed a complete game seven-hitter, striking out nine, to earn his sixth win of the year.
The Menlo offense gave him all the run support he needed in the third, batting around for five runs. Six-straight batters recorded two-out hits, including a two-run singles by Vega and James Threw.
C of I opened the scoring, as Simonds singled home a run in the first – but Chavez limited the Yotes chances. The hosts loaded the bases with one out in the third – but a double play ball ended the threat – while the Coyotes had two on with two outs in the sixth, but did not score.
Taylor Nicholson took the loss – despite not allowing a hit over the final six innings, striking out six. Simonds was the lone player for either team with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4.
The squads will meet tomorrow at 11 a.m. for a twinbill to close out NAIA West play. An Easter Egg Hunt, for kids 12-and-under, will precede the games at 10:30 a.m.