By Mario Ponce

EUGENE, Ore. - The Bushnell Beacons softball team (6-9) will host the College of Idaho Yotes (9-7) to start their second home series of the season. The Beacons are coming off a tough trip across the border, losing three of their four games in Vancouver against the UBC Thunderbirds.

Bushnell Beacons:
The Beacons started their season by losing six consecutive games before winning their next five before the series in Canada. They played last Saturday and Sunday in doubleheaders and lost both on day one and split the games on day two. The team has struggled for consistency this year, and at this moment has a negative run differential. Their biggest challenge is with runs allowed, as Bushnell has allowed at least one run in all of its games so far. By contrast, the Beacons have been shut out five times, including a 1-0 game against Arizona Christian where the Firestorm scored one run in the first inning and that was the only run of the game on February 3. The team’s best offensive player so far is senior catcher Faith Wayman, who has 13 hits, 12 RBIs and an average of .464 in 28 plate appearances. Their best performer in the mound is senior right-hander Liz Hillier, who has an ERA of 2.08 and a win-loss record of 2-3. Bushnell is currently ranked seventh in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, with a conference record of 1-2.

College of Idaho Yotes:

The Yotes have enjoyed a good season so far. They won their last two games against the Carroll Fighting Saints last weekend, but their Sunday game was canceled. Carroll was the first conference opponent they’ve faced, and they've been successful when batting this year. They’ve been shut out only once, also against the Arizona Christian Firestorm on Jan. 30. Their struggle is consistency, as they haven’t been able to get more than two wins in a row. Their offensive leader is sophomore catcher Lolo Walker, who has 15 hits, 17 RBIs and an average of .395 in 38 at-bats. Their best pitcher is senior right-hander Annie Polster, who has an ERA of 2.33 and a win-loss record of 5-3. The College of Idaho is currently ranked third in the CCC with a record of 2-0, the lowest undefeated team in the conference.

Prediction:

The series will be very interesting, and the teams are evenly matched. The Yotes are superior on paper, but the Beacons have been hot before, and they had a hard-fought series against the Thunderbirds. I predict the series will end 2-2, with both teams winning each of the doubleheaders.