By James Hernandez 

After nearly a month in-between games, the College of Southern Nevada welcomed perennial Scenic West Athletic Conference contender Southern Idaho into Lady Coyote Softball Field for a four game series to begin 2019 conference play.

Freshman Karen Hernandez (1-3) entered the circle for CSN looking to set the tone for a winning weekend to start the 2019 conference season. Hernandez and opposing pitcher Mailee Jensen were dialed in early, each tossing three scoreless frames to begin the contest. Southern Idaho's offense got going in the top of the fifth inning, plating a four spot to take a 5-0 lead.

CSN left fielder Avery Rayos doubled home the only runs of the game for the Lady Coyotes in the bottom of the fifth inning, cutting CSN's deficit to 5-2.

Unfortunately Jensen halted the Southern Nevada offense from that point on as the Golden Eagles cruised to an 8-2 victory. The dropped the Lady Coyotes to 0-1 in SWAC play and 2-10 overall.

Kayla Bello earned her second start of the season in game two of the weekend series. Bello was roughed up for five runs in three innings of work, eventually being relieved by Breanna Alvarez to begin the top of the fourth. Alvarez found a great rhythm in the circle, surrendering just one run in four quality innings of work to keep her team within striking distance.

A solo shot off the bat of Bailey Pepper in the first and a RBI double off the bat of Breanna Alvarez had the Lady Coyotes trailing 6-2 entering the bottom of the seventh inning.

The first five Lady Coyotes to bat in the bottom of the seventh reached base and RBI's from Alexis Vigil and Breanna Alvarez cut the deficit to 6-4. An error from the Golden Eagles left fielder allowed CSN to plate its fifth run of the game and the stage was set for a dramatic finish.

Haley Kassel stepped into the batter's box with the game on the base paths and clutched up with a game-winning 2 RBI single through the right side. A rally for the ages helped Southern Nevada snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, claiming an improbable 7-6 walk-off win.

CSN dropped CSI 7-6 to improve to 1-1 in conference play and 3-10 overall.

Sophomore Kristie Thomas stepped into the circle hoping to catch a stunned group of Golden Eagles in a bit of a rut after the improbable come from behind victory less than 24 hours ago.

Thomas surrendered six runs over 3.2 innings of work, departing the game trailing by four runs.

Breanna Alvarez relieved Thomas, but this time was tagged for 3 runs in 1.1 innings of work.

A Patricia Galtieri single to shortstop in the bottom of the second inning was the only thing keeping Southern Nevada from a shutout loss.

The Golden Eagles flexed its offensive muscle with a 9-1 run-rule victory in five innings. The loss dropped the Lady Coyotes to 1-2 in SWAC play and 3-11 overall.

The finale of the weekend featured Karen Hernandez making her second start of the weekend, in search of her first victory of the series and more importantly a weekend split to begin conference play. Hernandez was tough to hit at times, fanning six Golden Eagles over seven innings of work, however she did surrender ten earned runs on seventeen hits as CSI jumped out to a 7-0 lead after three innings of play.

A scrappy Southern Nevada group dusted itself off and struck for a seven spot of its own in the bottom of the third to knot the game up 7-7.

Alexis Vigil got the scoring started with an RBI single to centerfield, followed by long balls off the bats of Bailey Pepper (3 RBI) and Kayla Bello (2 RBI) that stunned the Golden Eagles. Despite the terrific rally, CSN was never able to take the lead in this offensive outburst by both teams.

Breanna Alvarez deposited a solo shot to center in the bottom of the fourth, and had the tying run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, however it was not enough to best the Golden Eagles in the weekend finale. Southern Idaho outlasted Southern Nevada in an offensive outburst 14-10.

The loss dropped CSN to 1-3 on SWAC play and 3-12 overall.

Fans your Lady Coyotes will be in Ephraim, Utah Friday March 8^th and Saturday March 9^th to battle the Snow College Badgers. For game times and live score updates all weekend log onto www.csncoyotes.com or follow us on Facebook CSNCoyotes and Twitter @CSN_Softball.