Nikki Shumway had went 5-for-7 with four runs scoring in Yotes sweep
CALDWELL, Idaho - Nickayla Skinner and Britney Croner each had six RBI, while Nikki Shumway logged five hits as The College of Idaho used a pair of big innings to sweep rival Eastern Oregon, 12-3 and 14-4, in Cascade Conference softball action at Symms Field.
The wins for the Lady Yotes (16-10, 8-4 CCC) marked the first time that The C of I had scored double-digit runs in both ends of a CCC doubleheader and pulled The C of I into second-place in the league standings at the midway point of the season.
Game 1 was blown open early, as the Coyotes scored nine times in the opening frame – tying a school record for most runs in the first inning, joining the 2003 squad that tallied nine vs. Walla Walla. The first seven batters reached base, as The C of I loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk – with an RBI fielders’ choice by Skinner getting the Yotes on the board. Caylin LePire lined a run-scoring single, with Croner and Kristen Haugen adding two-run safeties to make it 6-0. Shumway, who led off the inning with a single, knocked home a run with a second single, followed by a Hannah Johnson RBI triple, with the sophomore scoring on an errant relay throw.
It was enough for Skinner, who picked up her tenth win of the season in the mercy-rule shortened game, adding a long three-run homer in the third to push the margin to 12-0. The Mountaineers (4-20, 1-11) got on the board in the fourth on a two-run homer from Stephanie Maestretti and added an unearned run in the fifth.
Game 2 was tight early, as the Coyotes took advantage of three first inning walks to plate a pair of runs, but EOU responded with a two-run single by Emily Anderson in the third to tie the game.
After the Lady Yotes took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the frame on a Croner RBI groundout, the hosts busted the game wide open with an 11-run fourth. Kalie Kurdy lined an RBI single, Skinner roped a two-run single, Croner added a two-run single, Shumway had an RBI double, with a pinch hit three-run homer from Paige Gabiola capping the rally.
Croner got the win in the circle, working around seven hits to pick up her second win of the year. Shumway went 5-for-7 with four runs scored and Kurdy went 4-for-5 in the victory.
Jennifer McDonell took the loss in both ends of the doubleheader for EOU, as five different Mountaineers recorded two hits in the twinbill – but Eastern saw their losing streak extended to nine in a row.
The Lady Yotes hit the road this weekend with games at Northwest Christian and Corban.