Riley O'Brien gave up just a run in six innings of work for College of Idaho
VANCOUVER – The big bats of College of Idaho were too much for Marymount (Calif.) as the ‘Yotes downed the Mariners 10-3 on the second day of the
2016 NAIA West Grouping Championships, presented by U.S. Bank, in Vancouver.
The loss was the Mariners’ second in the tournament and knocked them from the competition. Marymount finishes its inaugural baseball campaign with a record of 15-25-1. College of Idaho (36-19) has one loss in their two games and will move on to play Corban (Ore.) in an elimination game later today at 4 p.m.
Marymount actually opened the scoring in the game in the top of the second when catcher Marvin Flores singled, stole second, then eventually scored on second baseman Dylan McDonnell’s sacrifice fly.
But the lead was short lived, as in the bottom of the second ‘Yotes second baseman Mitch Skaggs two-run RBI single gave College of Idaho a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The ‘Yotes blew the doors of the game in their five-run bottom of the sixth inning. All four players in the top of the ‘Yotes batting order came across the plate in the rally, with the big bat belonging to Jake Hennessey. With runners on second and third Hennessey drilled a double to left field scoring Dalton Ridgeway and Cole Mansanerez.
Both starters took the decisions in the game as Riley O’Brien pitched six strong innings for College of Idaho to get the win. Marymount starter Jesse Yancosek lasted two innings before being chased, after giving up four runs on four hits, while walking four batters in the loss.
Skaggs went 3-for-6 at the plate for the winners, while left fielder Seth Champlin drove in three runs.
In addition to Flores, five other Mariners got hits: designated hitter Dylan Hatch, first baseman Terrence Trueblood, pinch hitter Jesse Rodriguez, shortstop Cole Henderson and third baseman Devin Nakagawa.
The 2016 NAIA West Grouping Championship, presented US Bank goes all this weekend at UBC’s Thunderbird Park.