Nickayla Skinner improved to 15-3 on the season with the doubleheader sweep
EUGENE, Ore. - Molly Mills two-out RBI single in the seventh inning tied Game 1, starting a four-run rally - helping The College of Idaho earn a crucial doubleheader sweep of Northwest Christian, winning 6-3 and 5-0 at James Park
The sweep by the No. 21 ranked Lady Yotes (27-11, 10-8 CCC) kept the squad in the hunt for the final two berths in the Cascade Conference Tournament with just six games remaining in the regular-season.
The Beacons (7-26, 3-11) took an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning of Game 1, as Amanda Reiss lined a two-out, two-run double. The Yotes would even the game an inning later, as Rachael Strong hit her third home run of the season. Ally Mittleider led off the fifth with a solo home run, giving the hosts a 3-2 lead. The margin would last until the seventh, when Julia Henrie led off with an infield single, moving to third with two outs. After an intentional walk to Nikki Shumway, Mills tied the game with a base hit to right. Nickayla Skinner gave The C of I their first lead with an RBI single, Alexis Macias doubled home a run to make it 5-3, with the fourth run of the inning scoring on a passed ball.
It was enough for Skinner, who struck out 12 batters for the victory - her ninth game this season with 10-or-more strikeouts. Strong had the lone multi-hit game for the Yotes, going 2-for-3, while five different NCU players had one hit. Brooke Davis allowed eight hits in six-plus innings for the loss.
Game 2 was dominated by Skinner, allowing just three hits and striking out six, in tossing her sixth shutout of the season. The Yotes would get all the runs they'd need in the first, as Kristen Haugen singled home a run. A two-run Mills single in the second made it 3-0, with Henrie driving in a run with a single in the third. Haugen capped the scoring in the seventh with an infield RBI single.
Mills, Skinner, and Haugen each had two hits for the Yotes, who logged 11 hits in the win. Kalyssa Koontz allowed three runs on five hits in two innings of work, taking the loss for NCU, as the Beacons had just one runner reach third base.
The C of I returns to action tomorrow with a crucial doubleheader at Concordia, beginning at 11 a.m. (PT)