Coyotes Pick Up CCC Series Win Against Mountaineers, 3-1, in La Grande
EOU Sports Information
LA GRANDE, Ore. – Playing in its first home series in well over a decade, Eastern Oregon University Baseball hosted longtime rival College of Idaho for a four-game series at Optimist Field. The Mountaineers won the final game of the series but ultimately fell 3-1 to the Coyotes.
Day 1 – C of I 19, EOU 16 (Game 1) | C of I 11, EOU 2 (Game 2)
How it Happened
• The series opener turned into a slug fest in the final five innings as the Coyotes (18-21, 10-14 CCC) picked up a 19-16 win over the Mountaineers (4-20, 4-16 CCC). EOU won the hit battle, 20-18, but seven errors committed compared to just three by C of I.
• The game was low scoring through the first four innings as the Mountaineers led by just two runs at a score of 2-0 entering the fifth. The first run for EOU came in the second when Jason Vela scored on a wild pitch. Juan Guardado made a 2-0 lead in the fourth on a base hit through the left side to score Trevor Curl.
• The Yotes answered in the fifth tacking on four runs to grab their first lead of the game at 4-2. Five hits combined with an EOU error helped them go ahead by two. Their lead grew to 8-2 with four more runs in the sixth. Helping the Yotes was a pair of EOU errors to go along with four hits to make it a six-run lead. The Yotes had two doubles, a single, and a home run in the first four at bats to score the four runs.
• EOU cut its deficit to three with three runs scored in the bottom of the sixth. The Mounties loaded the bases and scored the first run with a walk that brought home Curl. A single from Isaac Chamberlain followed by a groundout from Carsten Manderbach scored the next two runs to make it an 8-5 game.
• A solo home run in the top of the seventh for the Yotes pushed their lead back to four at 9-5. EOU then retook the lead in the bottom of the frame scoring six runs to go ahead 11-5. Elliott Marks started things with an RBI single to score Dane Kelsey. Guardado cut the Yotes lead to one with an RBI base hit to score Vela.
• Blake Loftus tied the game at 9-all with a single to deep center field to score Easton Watterson. The Mountaineers went ahead by two when Manderbach hit a two RBI single to center to make it an 11-9 game.
• The Yotes responded in the top of the eighth scoring eight runs to go up by six, 17-11. Three straight walks to start the frame positioned the Yotes well as they then got a single, hit by pitch, double, and wild pitch in that order to jump ahead 13-11. A bases-loaded single and walk scored the next two runs before a two RBI single to center made it a 17-11 game.
• It remained a 17-11 contest until the ninth as the Yotes tacked on two more runs for safe measure. Two EOU errors following a leadoff walk got two runners on base and C of I got both home on a single and sacrifice fly, respectively.
• EOU nearly mounted the comeback in the bottom of the ninth scoring five runs on six hits before the Yotes ended the game. Brooks Dyer scored Guardado with a single to left. Two batters later Matt Garcia hit a double to score a pair of runners in Dyer and Manderbach. A single from Curl scored the 15th run for EOU while a wild pitch in the next at bat allowed Garcia to come home to bring the score to its final of 19-16.
• Game two saw the Yotes carriy their momentum over on offense as they scored 11 runs on 10 hits in the win. The Mountaineers had eight hits in the second game but scored just two runs in the loss.
• C of I scored two runs in the opening frame as a leadoff triple followed by a groundout plated home the first run. Back-to-back walks before a double to right scored the second run to make it a 2-0 game. The lead grew to 3-0 in the second inning on a double to left that scored the leadoff runner who was walked.
• EOU gave up another run in the fourth as a leadoff single got a man on for the Yotes and was brought home on a double down the right field line to make it a 4-0 lead. The first of EOU’s two runs came in the third as Blake Loftus led off with a single to get on. He eventually got to third on a stolen base and a groundout before a wild pitch allowed him to score.
• The score remained 4-1 until the top of the fifth as the Yotes scored one run to go ahead by four. A leadoff walk got a runner on before a wild pitch, line out, and sacrifice fly brought in the run. The lead grew to 7-1 in the sixth.
• The Yotes loaded the bases and got run in when the Mountaineers turned a double play. With a runner on, C of I once again loaded the bases before a walk by EOU brought in the run to make it a six-run lead for the Yotes.
• The score remained 7-1 until the bottom of the eighth as EOU managed to add one more run before the end of the game. A wild pitch by the Yotes allowed Adrian Roa to score to get the Mountaineers within five.
• C of I tacked on four runs in the top of the ninth to walk away wit the nine-run win. A double to right field scored the first two runs before a two-run homer to left field brought in the final two runs.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Juan Guardado went a perfect 4-4 with three RBI and scored two runs in game one.
• Carsten Manderbach was 3-6 with three RBI as well and scored one run.
• Trevor Curl scored three runs while batting 2-5 with one RBI in the opener
• Jason Vela also had three runs scored and was 2-5 at the plate in game one.
• Starter Jacob Farnsworth had five strikeouts in the series opener.
• Trevor Curl had two hits in four at bats in game two.
• Matthew Bennett also totaled two hits while appearing at the plate three times in game two.
• Kyle Lund had four strikeouts in the start in five innings of work.
For the Coyotes
• Matthew Clay was 3-6 and had four RBI while scoring three runs in the opener.
• Jonah Hultberg scored four runs in game one and was 3-6 at the plate with an RBI.
• Ben Dudley, Weston Miller, and Ryan Nolan all had two RBI in the game one win.
• Starter Connor Root had five strikeouts in the game. Hunter Kirkpatrick picked up the win in a relief effort.
• Austin Van Horne was 4-6 in game two and had four RBI to go along with two runs scored.
• Jonah Hultberg went 2-5 and scored three runs to go along with two RBI.
• Ben Dudle was a perfect 3-3 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored.
• Jaden Trueblood had seven strikeouts in the win as he pitched 5.1 innings.
Day 2 – C of I 6, EOU 5 (Game 3) | EOU 6, C of I 4 (Game 4)
How it Happened
• Game one was a close affair as the Yotes held on for a one-run win. C of I won the hit battle at 8-6 and had help in the win as EOU committed four errors in the loss.
• A two-run homer in the pitch got C of I on the board first. EOU responded in the bottom of the second scoring three runs to go ahead by one. The Mountaineers loaded the bases and a hit by pitch on Blake Loftus scored Juan Guardado. A two RBI single from Brooks Dyer two batters later plated home Easton Watterson and Adrian Roa to make it 3-2 for EOU.
• The score remained 3-2 until the Yotes scored three runs in the top of the fourth. Two hits and two EOU errors helped score the runs to put C of I ahead by two, at 5-3. A single to third on a bunt followed by an error at first scored the first of the three runs. An error at third on the next at bat allowed the second run to score before a sacrifice fly to right field made it a 5-3 lead for C of I.
• It remained a 5-3 game until the top of the eighth when C of I added its final run to the board. A Leadoff single got a runner on. Three batters later a fly out to center field scored the run to give the Yotes a three-run edge.
• EOU had a chance to tie in the bottom of the eighth but fell short and managed just two runs. A bases loaded walk brought in the first run in Matt Garcia. A wild pitch scored the next run as Trevor Curl came home before the Yotes ended the frame. In the bottom of the ninth, EOU once again loaded the bases in a two-out situation, but C of I escaped the jam to secure the win.
• The series finale went in the Mountaineers favor as they avoided the sweep with a two-run win. Both teams had two errors for the contest, but EOU held the edge in hits at 7-6.
• The Yotes once again grabbed the lead in the first inning as a double to left center scored the run to put them ahead at 1-0. The scored remained 1-0 until the bottom of the second as EOU scored five runs to jump ahead 5-1.
• A base hit from Elliott Marks paired with an error in center field allowed two runs to come in to make it a 2-1 game. The first run was unearned as Donovan Gonzalez got on base on an error and for the Yotes both of their errors came in the second.
• Blake Loftus put Eastern up 3-1 with an RBI single up the middle to score Adrian Roa. The Yotes then gave up back-to-back walks to load the bases. Kagen Kennedy then singled to center to score Loftus and make it a 4-1 edge for the Mounties. Matt Garcia made it a 5-1 game with an RBI fielder’s choice that allowed Carsten Manderbach to score.
• The final run for EOU came in the bottom of the third. Marks led off the inning with a double. Roa replaced him as the courtesy runner yet again and got to third on a sacrifice bunt. Manderbach plated him home with a single up the middle to give EOU the 6-1 lead.
• The Yotes cut the Mountaineers lead to three, at 6-3 with a two-run home run to right center field. It remained a 6-3 game until the eighth when the Yotes tacked on their final run of the game before falling by two. A leadoff double got a runner on before a fielder’s choice scored the run to bring the game to its final of 6-4.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Brooks Dyer went 1-4 in game three and had two RBI.
• Matthew Bennett finished 1-3 with an RBI in game three.
• Jaydon Yancey pitched seven complete innings in game three and had four strikeouts.
• Elliott Marks was 2-4 in game four and had one RBI in the win.
• Carsten Manderbach went 1-4 in the finale with a run scored and an RBI.
• Nick Jennings pitched seven complete and had 11 strikeouts in the win.
• Cale LaFever picked up the save in the finale and fanned two batters.
For the Yotes
• Austin Van Horne had two RBI while batting 1-5 in game three.
• Ryan Nolan tallied two hits in four at bats in game three and scored one run.
• Dillon Danner and Weston Miller each had an RBI in the game three win.
• Dimmick Wood picked up the win on the bump. He pitched seven complete and had eight strikeouts.
• In the finale, Austin van Horner was 3-4 with a run scored. He also pitched seven innings in the start and had seven strikeouts.
• Matthew Clay had two RBI while batting 1-4 in the finale and scored two runs.
• Weston Miller also had two RBI in the finale and hit 1-4.
Up Next
• The Mountaineers are on the road this upcoming weekend as they will head to Salem, Ore. to take on the Corban University Warriors. The series at Corban is set to take place April 17-18.