CALDWELL, Idaho – The Corban University Softball team (7-16, 5-8) struggled to wake up the bats in their first doubleheader of a four-game series with the No. 12-ranked College of Idaho Yotes (22-3, 9-2), who poured on the scoring in an 11-0 game one final score before a competitive 6-1 ballgame in the encore performance.
"Continuous growth on and off the field today, both the pitchers and hitters grew just from the first to second game," Corban Head Coach Danyelle Huber shared shortly after game two. "Emmaleena pitched a great game in for us in the second contest, C of I just had some timely hits."
Game 1 – College of Idaho 11, Corban 0
The No. 12-ranked Yotes wasted zero opportunities in picking up their 21st win of the season on their home field, scoring in every inning to run rule the Warriors in the fifth inning. They scored all but three runs via the small-ball approach, with three RBI singles, a sacrifice fly, and multiple groundout/fielder's choices on balls in play, with the rest of their runs coming in the bottom of the third inning on a bases-loaded triple by C of I's second baseman Kaylee MacDannald.
Corban freshman starting pitcher Vanesa Hulett-Quinones was roughed up for nine runs on seven hits, walking five batters and striking out only one. Freshman relief pitcher Amy Jankowski allowed two runs on one hit, hitting two batters in the process.
Yotes' starting pitcher Katelyn Wilfert tossed a complete 5.0 innings to pick up her 11th win on the year, allowing only three hits in her shutout of the Navy and Gold to the tune of eight strikeouts and no walks in only 59 pitches.
Corban spread around three hits over the 5.0 innings of play in game one, with junior designated player Morgan Gleeson, junior second baseman Samantha Martinez, and graduate student right fielder, Madison Wyllie each tallying singles against Wilfert.
Despite scoring 11 runs, the Yotes' offense only put together one multi-hit performer, as centerfielder Hattie Hruza tallied two hits and scored two runs as well. MacDannald led all players with a game-high four RBI, while shortstop Haley Loffer and designated player Lena Zahniser each crossed home plate on two occasions.
Game 2 – College of Idaho 10, Corban 0
College of Idaho struck first once again in game two, as first baseman Tanner Higgins blasted a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second inning to give the Yotes a slight 1-0 lead after 2.0 innings of action.
The Navy and Gold tied the game up in the very next inning, capitalizing on a leadoff infield single from sophomore centerfielder Jody Fischer and back-to-back sacrifice hit and stolen base plays that allowed her to score on a sacrifice flyball into right field off the bat of freshman catcher Kailey Betz.
Two innings later, the Yotes retook the lead on an RBI single from right fielder Lexi Navarette that scored Hruza, advancing to second on the throw and then to third base on a wild pitch. She would score the third run of the game for C of I the next at bat on a sacrifice fly to centerfielder by Zahniser.
Higgins belted her second homer of the afternoon in the bottom of the sixth, followed by a two-run single from left fielder Brinley Iverson to expand the lead to 6-1 in favor of the Yotes. The Warriors went down in order from there, leading to a day one sweep for the College of Idaho in their four-game series.
Sophomore starting pitcher Emmaleena Wood pitched 5.0 solid innings before the Yotes got to her in the bottom of the sixth, allowing six total runs off eight hits, walking three batters and striking out two more.
Yotes' starting pitcher Hannah McNerney settled in after allowing a third inning run to allow only four hits and one walk while striking out a game-high nine batters.
Wyllie put together the only multi-hit performance on the day for Corban, slashing two hits in game two in three at-bats. Fischer scored the lone run after her infield single allowed her to reach base safely.
Higgins' two blasts accounted for one of two multi-hit games for C of I, as she tallied two hits, two runs scored and two RBI thanks to her solo dingers. Navarrete earned two hits and two runs as well while plating only one RBI.
The Warriors and Yotes will continue their series tomorrow at 11am and 1pm MDT, with another doubleheader on tap before Corban returns home for another CCC series next weekend.
Follow Corban Athletics:
Facebook l Twitter l Instagram l Snapchat l YouTube l Email
Download our App: iOS (iPhone/iPad) l Android
