Chad Yeggy picked up the Game 2 win with four shutout innings
CALDWELL, Idaho - The College of Idaho extended their win streak to 11 games, as the Coyotes completed a four-game NAIA West sweep of Corban University, taking today’s baseball doubleheader 6-4 and 9-2, at Wolfe Field.
The victories by the Coyotes (18-10, 8-4) helped The C of I move into sole possession of second place in the North Division, heading into next weekend’s four-game series at No. 4 ranked Lewis-Clark State.
Game 1 saw the Yotes take an early 3-0 lead – as an Izaac Garsez RBI triple and a Brett Ward RBI single single in the first put The C of I on the board, with a Ward RBI ground out in the third pushing the margin to three. Starter Joshua Orr was on cruise control until the fourth, when the Warriors (2-17, 0-7) batted around to take the lead on a two-run Steven Blum single.
The C of I would even the score in the fifth on a Tanner Hodges sacrifice fly, then score the winning runs in the seventh on a perfectly executed double steal – Garsez swiping second, while Jeffrey Harris stole home. Ward followed with an RBI single to close the scoring.
It was enough for Todd Griffiths, who threw four scoreless innings of relief – allowing just one hit in facing the minimum to pick up his third win. Harris went 3-for-3 with four runs scored for the Yotes, with Garsez and Ward adding two hits. Kyle Taylor and Lance Foster each had two hits for Corban.
Game 2 saw the visitors’ stake out to a 2-0 lead in the first, as Blum lined an RBI double off the center field wall and Joshua Walker followed with a run-scoring ground out. The Yotes would take the lead in the second on one swing, as Kyle Douglas slammed a three-run homer to left.
An inning later, the Yotes took advantage of a bases loaded walk to push the lead to 4-2, then added two runs with two outs when Corban shortstop Jonathan Ramirez failed to touch second base on an inning-ending fielders’ choice chance. Jesse Dodd followed with a pinch hit RBI single to push the margin to 7-2.
It was enough for reliever Chad Yeggy, who fanned five men in four shutout innings of relief to pick up his first win of the season. Hodges went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Douglas knocked in four runs in the win. Jared Fritz had two hits in the loss for the Warriors.
The C of I-Lewis-Clark State series next weekend in Lewiston will take place over three days – single games on Friday and Sunday, with a Saturday doubleheader.