By James Hernandez 

After a 2-2 road trip to Salt Lake CSN returned home to host a scrappy CSI squad in a pivotal conference series with both team's jockeying for position at the midway point of the Scenic West Athletic Conference season. The Coyotes entered the weekend leading the SWAC with a 9-3 mark and the Golden Eagles came in two full games behind at 7-5.

Lefty Todd Danzeisen was once again asked to take the ball and set the tone as Coach Garritano and his staff braced themselves for an extremely competitive weekend of baseball. Danzeisen was off his game early, surrendering four runs in the top of the first inning. Fortunately for Todd, his offense rallied in the bottom of the first to erase the deficit and stake the lefty to a 6-4 lead. The Coyotes rallied to the final eight runs of the game, highlighted by a Jordan Macias two-RBI double in the bottom of the first. Macias led the Coyotes in RBI's with a pair, but game ones run producers could be found throughout the lineup. Jarrett Perns, Jason Wallace, Justin Lutes and Peyton Koopman produced one RBI apiece for the Coyotes. After allowing four first inning runs, Danzeisen settled down to fire six consecutive scoreless innings on the way to a complete game victory. CSN defeated CSI 8-4 to open up the weekend's play and improve to 10-3 in conference play and 23-10 overall.

The second game of the series featured two of the premier arms in the SWAC, lefty Ryan Beard for the Golden Eagles and freshman fire baller Herbie Good for the Coyotes.

The pregame hype of a pitcher's duel came to fruition as both starters had their way with the opposing lineup, combining to allow just a pair of runs, allowing five hits and striking out seven over 12.2 innings of work. Justin Lutes finally broke through for CSN in the bottom of the eighth inning, plating Christian Maggi to cut CSI's lead in half heading to the ninth. Freshman Alex Tisminezky pitched a pair of shutout frames in the eighth and ninth to set the stage for another epic late-inning rally by the Coyotes. Dillon Johnson ripped the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the ninth down the right field line for a leadoff triple and came in to score one batter later on a Jay Martz fielder's choice to second. With Martz standing on second base after a sacrifice bunt, Nicco Festa stepped into the box with a chance to play hero once again for CSN. The former Coronado Cougar made the most of his opportunity, lacing a shot just fair up the right-field line to plate Martz and give the Coyotes an improbable 3-2 walk-off victory. CSN extended its winning streak to three games and improved to 11-3 in SWAC play.

Day two of the series began much like the first ended, with both teams scratching and clawing to gain an edge in this ultra-competitive conference series. Ben Cutting got the ball for CSN Saturday afternoon hoping for a better result than last week's no-decision. Cutting was sharp as a tack in game three, allowing just one unearned run and striking out five over his 6.2 stellar innings of work. Catcher Nicco Festa broke a scoreless tie in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to left field that plated second baseman Dillon Johnson. CSI answered right back in the top of the fifth after Dillon Johnson air mailed a relay throw into the Golden Eagles dugout, allowing Shawn Grandmont to walk home from third after leading off the inning with a triple. The game remained tied heading into the bottom of the seventh as CSN looked to defeat CSI in its last at bat for the second time in less than 24 hours. After leading the inning off with a single to left, Nicco Festa made his way to third base with two outs, representing the game winning run. Festa's walking lead induced a game-ending balk from reliever Brandon Soucy to give CSN the 2-1 win and extend the Golden Eagles misery in Southern Nevada. Freshman Alex Tisminezky earned his second victory of the weekend and third overall with another stellar effort out of the bullpen.

The Coyotes sent its hottest arm in the starting rotation Isaiah Blaylock (5-1) to the mound looking to keep improve its home conference record at the "Den" to 8-0. Blaylock was on point all afternoon, overmatching a deflated Golden Eagles lineup on his way to another complete game victory. Isaiah scattered a pair of hits and struck out five over five scoreless innings to tie Todd Danzeisen for the team lead in wins (6). CSN scored at least one run in all five of its offensive innings, overwhelming CSI with a series high ten runs. Christian Maggi was in the middle of everything offensively, tallying a game-high three RBI's for the Coyotes. Justin Lutes capped off a perfect three for three day at the dish with his third homer of the season in the bottom of the fourth, to give the team its first long ball in nearly a month. Jarrett Perns and Jordan Macias produced one RBI apiece as CSN rolled to a 10-0 victory over CSI in the series finale.

Fans your Coyotes will have the weekend off, but will be back in action Friday April 14^th at the "Den" for a clash with the CNCC Spartans in a critical SWAC showdown. For next weekend's game times and a listing of future opponents log onto www.csncoyotes.com or follow us on Facebook CSNCoyotes and Twitter @CSNCoyotes.