Stolen Base Frenzy Leads Yotes to Split With Eastern
CALDWELL, Idaho – Haley Loffer went 6-for-6 with four runs scored and six stolen bases, as the College of Idaho split a doubleheader with Eastern Oregon at Symms Field.
The freshman stole a school-record five bases in a 7-1 Game 1 victory to claim the Cascade Conference series win, while EOU used a pair of fifth inning unearned runs to take a 3-1 victory in the non-conference nightcap.
The Coyotes (28-8, 14-4 CCC) set a school record with 10 stolen bases in the Game 1 win – scoring runs in five different innings.
EOU (7-26, 3-15) plated a run on a Haley Ebner fielders' choice in the first, but Loffer jumpstarted the C of I offense in the bottom of the inning – reaching on a bunt single, stealing second and third – scoring on a Marissa Maddox single to left.
An inning later, an Aleah Mendiola 2-out triple into the right field corner was followed by a slap single from Emily Aspden to give C of I the lead for good.
Loffer continued the pressure, ripping a single in the third, stealing second and scoring on an EOU error. Later in the inning, Delaney Atkins scored on a double steal to make it 4-1. Atkins extended the lead with an RBI double in the fifth, with C of I adding a pair of unearned runs in the sixth.
Hannah McNerney went the distance, allowing five hits and fanning five for the victory, with Loffer going 3-for-3 and Maddox going 2-for-2 for the Yotes. Brandi Bowling had two hits for EOU.
Both teams scored in the first of Game 2 – as Ebner lined a 2-out RBI single to give the Mounties a lead, but Loffer answered with her second homer of the season in the home half.
EOU took the lead in the fifth, capitalizing on a C of I throwing error on a sacrifice attempt, allowing Hannah Rothwell to score all the way from first.
C of I had chances in the late innings – but a pair of runners in each of the final three innings.
Lauren Spencer earned the win, allowing a run on 10 hits for Eastern, with Madison Barr going 2-for-4. Loffer was 3-for-3 and both Trystin Crofts and Atkins each had two hits for C of I.
The Yotes continue their homestand next weekend with a 4-game set vs. Carroll College.