VANCOUVER - In a game with more turns and bends than the I-84 between Caldwell, Idaho and Vancouver, BC, the College of Idaho Coyotes defeated the UBC Thunderbirds 12-9 in the NAIA West Grouping Championship presented by US Bank. The win sends the 'Yotes into a winner take all final game against Lewis-Clark State Sunday afternoon. The loss was UBC's second and knocks them from the tournament.
 
In a game that saw multiple lead changes, the difference makers were the top three batters for the 'Yotes.  Mitch Skaggs, Hunter Hanson, and Cole Mansenerez combined for nine hits, six runs, and seven RBI's.



The top of the seventh was the knock out inning for the 'Yotes.  Facing UBC freshman reliever Owen Kelly (Nanaimo, B.C.) and already leading 7-6, College of Idaho put five runs across to take a 12-6 lead and finish off the Thunderbirds. The key hits were a two-run single from Hanson and a two-RBI double by Mansanarez.
 
It seemed the two teams might burn out the bulbs in the scoreboard at Thunderbird Park during the early innings. College of Idaho scored single runs in the first, second, and fifth innings and put two across in both the third and sixth. UBC countered with two runs in the second and a four-run fourth inning keyed by Bruce Yari's (Waterloo, Ont.) two-run single.


 
UBC took one last charge in the bottom of the eighth when Tyler Enns' (East St. Paul, Man.) double into the left centre gap scored Lucas Soper (Vancouver) and then a triple by Anthony Cusati (Burnaby, B.C.) to the left field corner plated Enns.  This pulled the 'Birds within three of the 'Yotes, but a Griffy Goyer (Burnaby, B.C.) fly-out ended the rally.
 
Both teams used four pitchers on the day. Brady Winfield worked 3.2 innings to take the win for College of Idaho. Kelly took the loss for the Thunderbirds.
 
The 2016 NAIA West Grouping Championship presented by US Bank goes all this weekend at UBC's Thunderbird Park.