April 11, 2007

CALDWELL, Idaho - The Albertson College of Idaho softball team completed a season sweep of Canyon County rival Northwest Nazarene in a big way, defeating the Crusaders, 7-2 and 20-2, at a windy Symms Field.

On a day in which the Lady Yotes (25-8) clinched their second winning season and moved 17-games above .500 for the first time ever, it was a record-setting Game 2 that was the buzz. ACI tied or broke seven school records and had an NAIA Top-3 mark in the lopsided win.

The Coyotes sent 21 batters to the plate in the second inning of Game 2, scoring 17 runs on 14 hits - both new ACI records. Nicole Illias, Amy Rhoades, and A.J. Cavanaugh each hit two-run homers in the frame - the first time ACI had hit three longballs in one inning. Haley Butcher went 3-for-3 in the inning alone, scoring three runs.

ACI also set new records for runs in a game, hits in a game, and winning margin - while tying the school record for home runs in a game. The Yotes also had six consecutive hits in the frame, the third-highest total in NAIA history.

Chelsey Nokelby got the win for the Coyotes, allowing one hit and striking out two. Katie Zillner tossed two innings of relief, striking out five of the seven batters she faced.

Game 1 saw NNU (4-19) get an RBI double from Jael Henthorn in the second to take an early 1-0 lead. ACI would respond in the bottom of the frame, getting an RBI single from freshman Dani Villyard, a safety-squeeze bunt from Illias to give Yotes the lead, and three-run Zillner double to give the hosts a 5-1 lead. It was enough for starter Brooke Judy, who went five solid innings to pick up her tenth win of the season.

Butcher had a perfect afternoon, going 4-for-4 with four runs scored in the twinbill, while Illias went 3-for-3 with six RBI on the day. Jonelle Kamper went 3-for-5 on the day for the Crusaders, who lost the season series with ACI for the sixth consecutive season.