Box Score

By James Hernandez

After extending its season with a 1-0 walk-off win this morning over Trinidad State, the Coyotes (42-16) regrouped for another win or go home game versus Arizona Western College (43-21) .

The host Matadors found themselves in a win or go home game versus the Coyotes after dropping the winners bracket game to Central Arizona College 4-1. Co-wins leader Todd Danzeisen (8-1) got the starting nod for CSN and was opposed by Mats eight game winner Irving Martin.

Both teams were scoreless through the first three frames of the game, but Dillon Johnson got CSN going in the top of the fourth. "DJ" led off the inning with a rope triple to centerfield and later came around to score on a Cody Milner RBI groundout to second. Blake Wiggins doubled home Justin Lutes in the fifth, extending the Coyotes lead to 2-0.

Nursing a two-run lead heading into the sixth inning, CSN took advantage of an AWC miscue and used some timely hitting to hang a crooked number on the board.

Following a leadoff walk from Milner, a bunt back to the pitcher was air mailed to the Mats bullpen allowing Cody to score and Nicco to reach third. Former Liberty High School standout Jay Martz singled home Nicco Festa and later scored on a Justin Lutes two-out base knock back up the box, extending the Coyotes lead to 5-0.

AWC third baseman Sean Roby got a pair of runs back for the Mats with double to left in the eighth, cutting the Coyotes lead to 6-2 and setting up a crazy bottom of the ninth. AWC quickly cut the deficit to 6-4 in the bottom of the ninth courtesy of a Jordan Macias throwing error and a sacrifice fly.

Dan Skelly relieved Blake Inouye with one out and a runner on second. Skelly issued a free pass to the first batter he saw, but induced a game ending L-5-4 twin killing off the bat of the Matadors Daniel Lafarga.

CSN's implemented the bend but don't break theory to survive a barn burner 6-4 and earn a rematch with Central Arizona College on championship Saturday.

They say revenge is a dish best served cold, and the Coyotes will look to exact some revenge Saturday at noon after dropping a pair of games to the Vaqueros by a combined score of 27-5.