By James Hernandez

The #19 Coyotes entered the weekend just three victories from claiming its third consecutive SWAC regular season crown and fourth in five years. Standing in CSN's way was a familiar foe, the Salt Lake City Bruins.

Game one opened with both teams scratching and clawing to gain the upper-hand as two aces dueled with supremacy hanging in the balance.

Todd Danzeisen (7-0) was on the bump for CSN and was opposed by fellow unbeaten lefty Trenton Griffin (4-0).

Bruin first baseman Jacob Thurber deposited a ball over the right field in the top of the first to give SLCC the early 1-0 lead. In the top of the fourth inning Anthony Peterson executed a "suicide squeeze" to perfection, plating Tyler Zupon and extending the Salt Lake's lead to 2-0. Griffin kept the Coyotes off the scoreboard until a sixth inning rally set the stage for another epic CSN comeback.

Jay Martz plated Justin Lutes to cut the deficit and set the stage for "Swiss Army Knife" Joey O'Brien to work his magic once again.

Facing a 1-2 count, Joey smashed a hot shot to right field, scoring Dillon Johnson and Kaid Urban to give CSN its first lead of the day 3-2. Sophomore Blake Inouye pitched around a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh to strand the tying run on second base and earn his third save of the season.

CSN came from behind to snatch the opener of this crucial series 3-2. The victory improved the Coyotes to 21-4 in conference and extended its SWAC home winning streak to 13 games.

Freshman Isaiah Blaylock (6-2) took the ball in game two for the Coyotes, hunting his fourth win at "The Den" in his last five outings.

Braden DeLamare (3-5) got the starting nod for SLCC, but the sophomore's inability to throw strikes got him into hot water early. DeLamare was tagged for two hits and six runs just one inning of work that included four free passes as well as a pair of hit batsmen.

Blake Wiggins notched his first RBI in nearly two months after being plunked by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first. Dillon Johnson collected his first RBI of the day on a fielder's choice one batter later that doubled CSN's lead to 2-0. Jarrett Perns worked a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the second, expanding the lead to 3-0 and with the bases still loaded Justin Lutes smoked a 2 RBI single down the right field line. Two hitters later Wiggins plated his second run of the day with a single to center field that put the Coyotes comfortably ahead 6-0.

Blaylock allowed a pair of runs in the third inning, but recovered to pitch six quality innings of two-run baseball and earn his seventh victory of the year.

Future CSU-Pueblo commit Timmy Burtzloff fired three scoreless innings of two-hit relief to earn his first save of 2017, and moved CSN within one victory of a conference crown with a 7-2 victory in game two, extending the team's home conference winning streak to 14 games.

Following an emotional tribute to our 19 departing Coyotes on "Sophomore Day" southpaw Ben Cutting (4-0) was tasked with clinching CSN's third consecutive conference crown Saturday afternoon.

Cutting responded with arguably his most dominant outing in a Coyote uniform. "Benji" dealt a complete game four-hitter, striking out five and keeping a dangerous Bruins lineup off the scoreboard.

Justin Lutes tripled home his third run of the weekend in the first to give the Coyotes an early 1-0 lead. Maggi struck for the first of his two RBI's in the second with a bases-loaded walk. Jay Martz scored later that inning on a wild pitch uncorked by Mason Abrath to give the Coyotes a 3-0 advantage. Dillon Johnson added an insurance run in the sixth with a clutch two-out base knock that chased home Christian Maggi.

CSN clinched the 2017 SWAC title and improved to 15-0 at home in conference following its 4-0 shutout of SLCC.

After securing a third consecutive Scenic West Athletic Conference title, CSN paid homage to its departing Coyotes with an "all-sophomore" starting lineup in the series finale.

Dan Skelly got the nod in game four and responded with one of his best starts of the season. The former UNLV Rebel tossed five innings, allowing five hits, four runs and striking out four Bruins.

CSN threatened to blow this one open early, plating five runs in the bottom of the first. Cody Milner singled home "DJ" for the first run of the game and two batters later Nicco Festa earned his first RBI of the series with a bases-loaded walk. Ryan Jackson laced a 2 RBI double down the left field line to double up the lead 4-0. Bronson Bowe just missed a round-tripper to left one batter later, but did earn the RBI on a sacrifice fly to right that inflated the Coyotes lead to 5-0.

Unfortunately for CSN, the bats went dormant the rest of the game and SLCC took full advantage. The Bruins scored ten runs over the final five innings of play to salvage a 10-5 win in the series finale.

The loss dropped the Coyotes to 15-1 at "The Den" in SWAC play, however the team still finished with its best conference home record of the Nick Garritano era.

Fans your Coyotes will be in Twin Falls this weekend to wrap up the 2017 SWAC campaign versus the CSI Golden Eagles Friday and Saturday afternoon.

For game times and score updates all weekend log onto www.csncoyotes.com or follow us on Facebook CSNCoyotes and Twitter @CSNCoyotes.