LADY YOTES OPEN SEASON 3-0 IN CALIFORNIA

The College of Idaho softball team opened the 2012 with a trio of victories at the Simpson Invitational Tournament in Redding, Calif.

The Lady Yotes (3-0) opened with an 11-1 victory over host Simpson, knocked off Holy Names, 7-4, and closed the day under the lights with a 6-0 shutout of William Jessup.

In the opener, Nickayla Skinner struck out nine batters in the complete-game two-hitter, as The C of I needed just six innings to top the 2011 NCCAA national runners-up.  The Yotes jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, padding the cushion with a four-run fifth and a three-run sixth inning.  Nikki Shumway went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two stolen bases in the win, with Molly Mills going 2-for-4 with three RBI.  Skinner and Kayla Webb each added two hits, with Alexis Macias going 2-for-4 with a solo home run.

Mills provided the big blow in Game 2, breaking open a 4-2 contest with a fourth inning three-run homer.  The C of I jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on RBI singles from Kristen Haugen and Mills, but a two-run homer by HNU's Samantha Fisher tied the score in the second.  In the bottom of the second, Haugen and Mills connected on RBI singles to give the Yotes the lead back.  It was enough for Macias, who allowed just two earned runs for the victory, as Mills went 3-for-5 with five RBI, Hannah Johnson going 3-for-4 with a run scored, and Haugen going 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Under the lights, Skinner handcuffed WJU - limiting the Warriors to just four hits, striking out 10 in the win.  The Yotes jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings - as Mills roped a two-run single in a three-run first, with The C of I taking advantage of two errors to plate a pair in the second.  Shumway went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, with Johnson, Skinner, and Mills each recording two hits.

The Lady Yotes play a trio of games on Saturday - meeting Patten University at 11:30 a.m., Biola at 4:30 p.m., and Concordia-Irvine at 7 p.m.