CALDWELL — Just two weeks ago, College of Idaho coach Al Mendiola wonder where his team's offense was, and where the Yotes focus lay.

Two weeks later, there's no doubt in anyone's mind as the College of Idaho softball team has run of 13 wins in 14 games, including a dramatic last at-bat win in extra inning over NCAA Division I foe Boise State.

During that stretch they Yotes have averaged just over six runs a game, and also firmly taken control of the Cascade Conference.

"We've been doing really well swinging," C of I senior Haley Butcher said after another solid offensive day for the Yotes who swept a league doubleheader from Concordia 7-1 and 6-5. "And our pitchers have been doing awesome, and all around, our defense has been making some good plays."

It all has come together, but the big key has been offense, which made an early 3-0 deficit against Concordia in Game 2 on Saturday far less daunting.

"Unlike earlier in the season where we couldn't afford to give that 3-0 lead, I felt pretty comfortable," Mendiola said.

You might think now is the time for the Yotes to get comfortable, too.

Nope.

Even though the C of I is well in control of the Cascade Conference race — the C of I needs to beat just one win over Southern Oregon to clinch the league crown as the two teams play a doubleheader in Ashland, Ore., on Friday — the Yotes need to make sure they put the hammer down and finish what they started two weeks ago, starting their current run by routing the Raiders 12-1 and 6-0.

Mendiola knows it won't be easy, and admits as much. But he does believe his team can finish off the second league title in the last three seasons.

"It's much better than having to sweep Southern Oregon," he said, adding, "with our pitching and our offense, definitely we can take one."

"We're so excited," Butcher said of next weekend's games at SOU, "we just need to bring what we brought today and I think we'll be fine."

The big prize that comes with a win over the Raiders — a return trip to the NAIA Softball World Series in Alabama next month as the NAIA went to a direct qualification plan, meaning the Cascade Conference champ gets an automatic berth to nationals — no need for regionals any more.

Making the Coyotes run of late even more impressive, as winning the title proved a do-or-die thing with no second chance in a postseason tournament to earn a trip to nationals.

Maybe the only disappointing thing is that the C of I potential could win a second straight trip to the World Series, and do it on another teams field.

Last year the Yotes won the Region I tournament over Oregon Tech on the Owls diamond. Friday, they could win the Cascade Conference on the Raiders field.

"Maybe next year, if they allow a conference championship," Mendiola said of possibly winning a trip to nationals at Symms Field on the C of I campus.

"But you know what, though, our fans go, so it's like being at home," Mendiola added of road trips.

While it won't be easy, and the Yotes aren't looking past the Raiders, for the team's five seniors and junior Brooke Judy — who is in a three-year engineering program and will move on to another school next fall — the chance to close out a career at nationals is a very tempting way to finish that'll provide some extra motivation.

"It'd be pretty awesome," Butcher said. "We can't jinx ourselves, though, but I've believed this from the very first game of the season that we were going to go. We have the best team we've ever had and we deserve to be there, we've worked hard."

Costly loss?

The College of Idaho baseball team wrapped up its regular season hosting Corban on Saturday, and the games didn't mean much in terms of standings or seeding for the postseason — the Coyotes already knew they were in the NAIA West tournament and also knew that North Division champ British Columbia would host the tournament starting Monday, May 4.

So the goal for the Coyotes, get through Saturday, try and get some wins and some momentum, and get ready for the playoffs without incident.

So much for that last part.

Mixed up in a tussle at first with Kyle Taylor. The C of I's Diego Robles and Taylor were both ejected for a small scuffle as Taylor gave Robles an elbow shove darting back to the bag that the Yote first baseman returned.

The problem, Taylor won't be missing any postseason games as Corban is out of the playoff running, but for the Yotes ...

Robles will have to sit out at least the first game of the NAIA West tournament, and could end up sitting out two games if his ejection was for fighting as opposed to just a straight ejection as a result of the confrontation.

That's one less big bat in the C of I lineup for a couple of days, and a big player the Coyotes must play without.

The other, Jason Barry, who struck out four in three scoreless innings of relief on Saturday. Possible the senior's final college game, as the pitcher from British Columbia recently applied for his U.S. citizenship and can not leave the country until his citizenship process is complete.

With the NAIA West tournament in Canada, that means no trip home for Barry, who would be available for the Coyotes if they make the national tournament. To do that, the Yotes need to win the NAIA West tournament without one of their top pitchers in order to prolong Barry's college career.