Prescott, AZ - On a sunny day at Roughrider Park in Prescott, Arizona, the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes managed to fend off a late surge by the Yavapai College Rough Riders to clinch a 10-8 victory in the first game of a crucial three-game ACCAC series. The win improves the Coyotes' record to an impressive 8-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play.

The game started off strong for the Coyotes, who jumped out to an early lead by scoring two runs in the first inning thanks to a two-run homer from Jaxson Reiser. The Coyotes continued to build their lead with consistent hitting, including a solo run in the third and two more in the fourth. The fifth inning saw the Coyotes' bats catch fire, driving in five runs highlighted by home runs from Anthony Marnell IV and a double that brought in two runs by Ashton Zacher.

Chase Frey started on the mound for CSN and put in a solid performance over five innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out three. His efforts earned him his second win of the season. However, the bullpen encountered some turbulence in the later innings. Evan Festa, who took over in the sixth, struggled as Yavapai rallied for five runs, cutting the lead to just two runs thanks to a three-run homer by Cade Schupp.

The seventh inning remained tense as Yavapai continued to chip away at CSN's lead, adding three more runs. Tyler Kennedy initially took the mound but struggled with control, leading to Kody Bialas stepping in to stop the bleeding. Bialas managed to close the game despite allowing another run, securing the win for the Coyotes.

Offensively, CSN showed depth and power. Jaxson Reiser led with three hits and three RBIs, including a home run. Chaz McNelis added a crucial triple that brought in a run, while Harvey Smerdon and Anthony Marnell IV each contributed with multi-hit performances, driving in key runs for the team.

Despite a few defensive slips that led to two errors, the Coyotes' offense was able to compensate, amassing a total of 12 hits. Their aggressive baserunning, highlighted by a stolen base from Jack Wheatley, put constant pressure on Yavapai's defense.

This victory sets a positive tone for the Coyotes as they look to continue their dominance in the ACCAC. The team's resilience and ability to produce offensively under pressure will be crucial as they face Yavapai in the remaining games of the series. The next game promises to be another exciting matchup as the Coyotes aim to strengthen their standing in conference play.