Yotes Drop Windswept Game with NNU

Zeb Sneed allowed just two hits and struck out eight in five innings of work, as Northwest Nazarene made a five-run second inning stand up in a 5-4 victory over The College of Idaho at frigid Wolfe Field.

The Division II Crusaders (11-4) evened the four game series with the Yotes (16-6) at a game apiece with the victory.

NNU used small ball in the second to grab the big lead, as back-to-back bunt singles on sacrifice attempts followed a Zach Steele base hit to load the bags.  Fernando Robles was hit by a pitch to get the Crusaders on the board, with Jamie Mitchell singling two with a base hit to center.  Following a bunt single by Kaleb DeHaas, a fielding error by the Yotes allowed two more runs to score.

Sneed made one mistake, a long home run to right by Jarel Lewis in the second.  The Coyotes would cut the lead to 5-3 in the seventh on a two-out, two-run single by Izaac Garsez.  In the ninth, the Yotes loaded the bases with one out, scoring a run on a Tyler Andazola fielders’ choice.  However, with runners at the corners and two strikes, Todd Griffiths was caught in a run-down between first and second before Anthony Pawelek was able to cross home plate to end the game.

Charlie Gorzo went 3-for-4 with a run scored for NNU, with Steele and DeHaas each having two hits.  Sean McDonald went the final two innings for his first save.

Zach Fabricius went 2-for-4 with two runs scored for the Yotes, with Griffiths settling down to toss a season-high seven innings in a losing effort.  Parker Vernon tossed two scoreless innings of relief for The C of I.

The Yotes return to action next Tuesday with a return visit to NNU at 3 p.m.