Kalie Kurdy went 8-for-12 for the Lady Yotes in California
REDDING, Calif. - The College of Idaho won 2-of-3 games today at the Simpson University Invitational at Big League Dreams Park.
The Lady Yotes dropped a 7-5 decision to No. 6 ranked Concordia-Irvine in the opener, then won back to back games - stopping Menlo 17-2 and Biola 9-4.
In the opener, The C of I had their chances against the Eagles, according to head coach Al Mendiola, but a pair of home runs off starter Nickayla Skinner did the Yotes in. The Purple and Gold held a 2-1 lead in the second on back-to-back bases-loaded hit by pitches, but CUI plated five runs in the third, with a three-run Alyssa Erickson bomb the big blow. Kristen Haugen had an RBI single in the fourth and Kalie Kurdy had a run-scoring single in the sixth, with the Lady Yotes bringing the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but couldn't get the big hit.
Five different players - Skinner, Kurdy, Haugen, Nikki Shumway, and Kendall Pavey each had two hits.
Game 2 saw seniors Kurdy, Sammy Dodge, and Caylin LePire all hit home runs, as the Yotes recorded their highest-scoring game since the 2007 season, using a 12-run second inning to earn the mercy rule win.
Kurdy launched a two-run homer in the first to erase a 1-0 Menlo lead, before the team batted around in the second. Dodge lined a two-run shot and Molly Mills added a two-run double in the inning. LePire’s homer, another two-run blast, capped the scoring in the fourth.
It was enough for Britney Croner, who tossed a complete-game four hitter. Kurdy went 3-for-3 with four RBI, while Mills, Paige Gabiola, and Kaci Baldwin all had two of the Yotes 14 hits.
Under the lights, the Lady Yotes picked up their first-ever win against in seven chances against the Eagles - who were receiving votes in the NAIA preseason poll. The C of I jumped out to a 7-0 lead, scoring three times in the third and a four-spot in the fourth and hung on for the win.
Skinner was dominant in the circle, fanning 13 batters for her first collegiate win, while adding an RBI double at the plate. Kurdy and Mills each had three hits for the Coyotes.
The Coyotes close tournament play tomorrow with games against William Jessup, Simpson, and top-ranked Cal Baptist.