CALDWELL – The College of Idaho took Friday’s Cascade Conference series opener in extra innings by a final of 3-2. Greg Blackman threw a solid five innings of relief, but miscues in the 10th gave the Yotes the winning run.
LC State is now 20-11 overall and 5-8 in CCC action.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Yotes took a 2-0 lead with three hits in the bottom of the third. With two on in the fourth, LC State starter Trevin Hope struck out Jonah Hultberg, C of I’s most dangerous bat, to keep the margin at two.
The Warriors chipped away at the deficit in the top of the fifth. Sam Olsson led off the frame with a free pass after being hit by a pitch and courtesy runner Jordan Justice took second on a passed ball. Freshman Noah Weintraub drove a double to left center to plate the run and make it a 2-1 ball game.
A relay in from Weintraub in right cut down a C of I runner at the plate in the sixth to keep the difference at one as Blackman continued his outing from the bullpen.
The Warriors evened things up in the top of the eighth, starting with back-to-back singles by Carter Booth and Nick Seamons. A wild pitch moved both into scoring position and a sacrifice fly by Pu’ukani De Sa knotted things up 2-2.
Blackman sat C of I down in order in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. Booth doubled to left but was left stranded in the top of the 10th.
The Yotes took advantage of pitching miscues in the bottom of the 10th with a walk, balk and two wild pitches to win via walk-off.
Cameron Smith took the loss in his lone frame. Hope gave up two in four innings with two strikeouts, and Blackman fanned four in five innings without allowing a run.
Booth led the offense with two hits for half of the LC State total.
UP NEXT
The series with C of I continues with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at noon PT.
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