With one week of conference play remaining, the YVC softball team is still hanging on to its playoff hopes after splitting a pair of home doubleheaders over the weekend. Currently No. 15 in the NWAC's RPI rankings, the Yaks will likely need to log at least a couple more wins to surge into the top 12 and qualify for the postseason.
The Yaks started off the month of May on a high note with a 7-1 win over Treasure Valley last Friday. Pitcher
Kassidy Van Soest struck out nine and gave up just four hits and two walks over seven innings to earn the victory. She also went 2-for-3 and scored two runs as YVC took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added two in fourth and two in the fifth.
Riley Eckhardt and
Kylee Bradley each had two-run doubles and Bradley added an RBI single in the fifth as the Yaks outhit the Chukars 12-4. Bradley finished 2-for-3,
Madalyn Telles went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and
Addison Flynn notched an RBI single.
Treasure Valley wasted no time taking control of game two, scoring seven runs in the first inning to hand the Yaks an 18-6 defeat. The Chukars scored four more in the third and four in the fourth, outhitting YVC 17-8 on the afternoon. Starter
Kathryn Prest took the loss, giving up 11 hits and seven earned runs in three innings, while Van Soest allowed six hits, three walks and five earned runs in her two innings of work. Bradley smashed a three-run homer in the third, while Telles, Eckhardt and Flynn each had RBI singles.
Cheyenne Justice went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and Eckhardt finished 2-for-3.
YVC returned to action Saturday against Blue Mountain, taking the opener 11-9. The Yaks fell behind 4-1 early but scored two runs in the third and four in the fourth to take control. Justice delivered a run-scoring double and an RBI single to finish 2-for-4, while
Abbygale Sheridan went 2-for-2 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Ellie Urlacher went 2-for-2 with two runs,
Rillee Huber was 2-for-4 with an RBI double, and Van Soest went 1-for-4 with three RBI, including a two-run double in the sixth. She also picked up the win in the circle, allowing 11 hits and seven earned runs while striking out six.
Both teams brought the offense in game two, but the Timberwolves eventually emerged with a 13-11 win by outhitting the Yaks 18-15. The game was tied 11-11 through six innings, but Blue Mountain notched two runs in the top of the seventh to secure the split. Huber went 3-for-4 with two RBI, Sheridan went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Bradley had a bases-clearing double in the first. Flynn added a two-RBI single in the sixth and Justice went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Prest suffered the loss in the circle, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs while striking out four over four innings. Van Soest closed out the game, giving up eight hits and four earned runs.
YVC (8-12 NWAC East, 17-25 overall) will host Wenatchee for two on Tuesday, followed by road doubleheaders against second-place Walla Walla and fourth-place Columbia Basin this weekend.
