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CSN Coyotes take 3 out of 4 from USU Eastern Golden Eagles, behind late inning offensive heroics.
 
By Harrison Howard/csncoyotes.com
April 14, 2015
 
Las Vegas, NV- With the playoffs right around the corner, the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes entered their non conference weekend series against the Utah State University Eastern Golden Eagles with a 28 and12 record.  The Coyotes have faired well against the Golden Eagles this season, winning all six games.  Even though the USU Eastern Golden Eagles have struggled this season, holding an overall record of 10 and 31, they attempted to spoil the CSN Coyotes' road trip by stealing the weekend series. 
 
The Coyotes called upon starting pitcher Anthony Martine for the first game of the series, and he did not disappoint.  Martine only allowed 3 base runners through 5 innings pitched, while striking out 5 hitters.  The bottom of the lineup for the Coyotes, Matt Waldren, Jose Verdugo and Reece Lucero, combined for 7 hits, 5 RBIs and 8 runs, which helped defeat the Golden Eagles with the final score of 10 to 1.
 
The final result of game #2 for the Coyotes was a tough one.  Any time a team throws a combined no-hitter, they usually win the game, but for the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes' combined no-hitter produced a different result.  Entering the bottom of the 7^th inning, USU Eastern's lead off hitter was hit by a pitch, then was moved into scoring position by a sacrifice bunt.  Later in the inning, an error by CSN's starting shortstop, Cain Brady, scored the only run of the ball game, in a walk off victory for USU Eastern 1 to 0.  CSN's starting pitcher and future first round draft pick in this year's upcoming MLB draft, Phil Bickford, threw 4 innings, allowing 1 walk and striking out 9 batters, which was definitely good enough to win the game.  Bickford hasn't received the run support he had hoped for this season, but his play hasn't shown any signs of frustration, posting an overall ERA of 1.77 and striking out 105 hitters while only walking 15.
 
Game #3 was another close one for the Coyotes.  The Coyotes scored two runs in the top of the 2^nd inning, and the Golden Eagles answered right back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the 2^nd inning as well.  In the top of the 6^th inning CSN broke the tie with a bases loaded wild pitch from USU Eastern's pitcher Bennett Bradford.  The Coyotes' bullpen finished off the Golden Eagles, giving them the victory with the final score of 3 to 2.
 
The Coyotes won two of the three games and had a chance to win another road series with a victory in the final game this past Saturday.  Kayden Porter got another start with starting pitcher, Aj Jones, sidelined with an arm issue.  The Golden Eagles were leading 6 to 4 until the Coyotes exploded for five runs in the top of the 8^th inning, taking the lead 9 to 6.  Relief pitcher, Alec Hutt, pitched a perfect 9^th, inning earning his third save of the season, helping defeat the Golden Eagles with a final score of 9 to 6. 
 
After winning three out of four games this weekend, the Coyotes hold their own destiny moving forward, where they face the second and third place division teams in the next two weeks.  If the Coyotes can win each of the upcoming match ups against the Salt Lake Community College Bruins and the College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles, they should keep their first place standing in the SWAC Conference.  Before the season started, the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes were one of the two favorites to win the SWAC and continue to look like they will do so.  The CSN Coyotes are home this week, taking on the second place SLCC Bruins.  The first pitch of game #1 is scheduled for 6:00 pm this Thursday night.
 
For the latest news, the complete 2015 Coyote baseball schedule, and more of my articles covering each weekend series, please visit www.csncoyotes.com.  Follow us on Twitter @CSNCoyotes, for live scoring updates and in game tweets.  .