Taylor Takes Opening Day Games from Yotes
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Two home runs off the bat of Kristin Mihalic led Taylor to a pair of wins over The College of Idaho on Friday at Dream City Christian School.
In Game 1, the Trojans (4-2) came out on top 3-1, with Taylor taking Game 2 by a 5-3 final.
Playing in their first games of the season, the Yotes (0-2) took on a tough opponent that had already took part in four contests entering the day.
The opening game was a pitching duel throughout, with the difference being a three-run homer by Mihalic in the first inning to give the Trojans a lead they would not relinquish.
Taylor starter Maddi Evans (2-0) was outstanding, allowing just two hits and striking out 13 in a complete game performance in the circle to earn the win.
Hannah McNerney (0-1) started for C of I and shut down the bats for the Trojans after the Mihalic homer, working a complete game and scattering seven hits and two walks while striking out a pair.
The top of the sixth inning marked the biggest threat that the Yotes would muster offensively in the opener, as C of I loaded the bases on two walks and a sharp liner off the bat of Kaily Christensen. Hattie Hruza was then hit by a pitch to plate a run in the form of Haley Loffer.
With the bases loaded and one out, Evans struck out Kaylee MacDannald and was the benefactor of a quality defensive play by second baseman Kara Tucker, who ranged far to her left on a ball hit off the bat of Annie Polster. Tucker would go on to throw Polster out at first to end the threat.
Both teams were held in check over the first couple of innings of Game 2, with a pair of pretty defensive plays by C of I second baseman Kylie Smith highlighting the early action.
The Yotes tallied the first runs of the game in the bottom of the third, turning a leadoff base runner into a 2-0 lead. Loffer was hit by a pitch to start the frame before stealing second to get into scoring position. A Smith sacrifice bunt advanced Loffer to third, with a Crofts grounder on the infield bringing her home. Crofts later scored herself when Christensen stole second, as the throw from the catcher went all the way through to the bag, allowing Crofts to race in from third on the back end.
In the top of the fourth, a beautiful throw from center by Hruza to gun down Mihalic appeared to get the Yotes out of the inning, however an interference call by the home plate umpire changed the complexion of things, with two runs coming home for Taylor in the inning as a result.
The Trojans took the lead at 4-2 in the top of the fifth on a two-run homer for Mihalic.
C of I immediately cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth, with Loffer launching a home run over the right field fence to make it 4-3.
That would be as close as the Yotes would get, as the Trojans added an insurance run in the sixth.
Cassy Lewis (1-1) earned the win in relief for Taylor, working three innings and allowing one hit, one run and a walk.
Katelyn Wilfert (0-1) took the loss for C of I, going 4 2/3 innings and allowing eight hits, four runs and a walk while striking out three.
The Yotes return to action tomorrow at noon for a doubleheader against Arizona Christian.