pitching and defense carry yotes past Patten 

Tyler Andazola went 5-for-6 and College of Idaho pitchers did not allow an earned run in 18 innings of work, as the Coyotes swept a doubleheader from Patten University, 9-0 and 5-1, at Laney Field in Oakland, Calif.

The Coyotes (32-12, 17-7 NAIA West) maintained their lead in the race for the top seed for the NAIA West Tournament heading into the final two weekends of the regular-season.  The C of I holds a three-game lead on British Columbia and a four-game lead on Menlo in the loss column.

Taylor Nicholson and Izaac Garsez combined on a six-hit shutout in the opener, as the duo struck out nine Lions (12-22, 8-15).  Garsez struck out four of the seven men he faced, including the side in order in the ninth.

The Yotes broke a scoreless tie in the fourth, as Jesse Dodd blooped an RBI single.  The Purple and Gold would plate four in the fifth, including a Jarel Lewis two-run single and an RBI knock by Jeffrey Harris.  The C of I extended the lead to 9-0 in the eighth, as Garsez singled home a run, with Tanner Hodges gapping a two-run triple.  Andazola went 3-for-4 in the win, tying a school record with four of the Yotes 10 stolen bases, with Hodges going 3-for-5 with three runs scored.

Game 2 saw Patten grab an early 1-0 lead in the first, plating an unearned run on a David Whiteside sacrifice fly - but would have just one runner reach third base the rest of the game.

Andazola gave the Yotes the lead for good in the second, roping a two-run triple, with Hodges scoring on a double-steal in the third to push the lead to 3-1. 

It was enough for Joshua Orr, who allowed just three hits in seven strong innings to record his seventh win of the season.  Andazola went 2-for-2, with Garsez adding a pair of hits in the victory.

The Yotes close out their home schedule Saturday and Sunday, hosting Menlo College in a four-game series.