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By Jame Hernandez 

Two top five ranked Softball programs took the field in Las Vegas this past weekend as the fourth ranked SLCC Lady Bruins faced off in a four game series versus the second ranked CSN Lady Coyotes. The intensity was through the roof with each pitch as three of the four games in the series were decided by a single run.

Reigning SWAC player of the week Megan Mello took the mound in game one for the Coyotes looking to extend the teams twelve game winning streak. Mello did her part by pitching a complete game, allowing just two earned runs over seven innings of work but three errors by the CSN defense led to a pair of unearned runs that ultimately decided the game. Unfortunately for the Lady Coyotes a seventh inning rally fell short when Dacia Sykes was stranded on third after her two-run triple scored two and brought CSN to within a run. The twelve game winning streak was snapped as CSN dropped game one of the series to SLCC 4-3.

CSN's bats came out on fire in game two as Kristina Nelson, Maggie Manwarren and Dacia Sykes all contributed at least one RBI and knocking out SLCC starting pitcher Elisha Jahnke after just two innings of work. The lead was short lived as the Lady Bruins would score four runs  in the bottom of the third and tied the game. Vanessa Sanders launched her team leading eighth home run in the third with a runner on and added her third RBI in the fourth with a SAC fly that put CSN ahead 7-4. Salt Lake would rally to tie the game at 7 in the 5th and Rae Gall would score the game winning run on a passed ball in the top of the seventh inning. Lady Coyotes lost a heart breaker 8-7 in game two of the series versus SLCC.

Game three was Deja vu for the Lady Coyotes as they once again jumped out to an early lead and seemed to be in control until a late inning collapse cost them the game. Catcher Rebekka Gross put CSN ahead 5-1 with a two run double, but starting pitcher Megan Mello was unable to hold the lead as she had her worst start of the season allowing six runs, seven hits and a very uncharacteristic eight walks. Salt Lake pitcher Baylee Reeves pitched 2.1 innings of relief to earn her second victory of the series as her Bruins defeated the Coyotes 8-6 in game three of the weekend.

CSN scored first for the third straight game and played with a sense of urgency all afternoon as they attempted to salvage the final game of the series and avoid being swept at home in this matchup of top five teams. Coyotes starting pitcher Kristina Nelson kept CSN in it all day allowing just three runs in a complete game effort that kept her team in it until the offense came alive for a season defining rally in their final at bat of the weekend. Chelsea Perez got the inning started with an infield single followed by a Kristina Nelson double which put runners on second and third with no outs. Two consecutive Salt Lake errors allowed the Coyotes to tie the game at three. With one out in the inning Dacia Sykes hit a grounder to the shortstop that led to Sydney Cluff scoring the game winning run as the ball was dropped after a home plate collision with SLCC catcher Riana Splinter. CSN salvaged the final game of the weekend 4-3, in what was a very intense and electric series between the two best teams in the SWAC.