HENDERSON, NV, March 15, 2025 — Cochise College managed a narrow victory over the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes, securing a 5-4 win in the second game of their three-game ACCAC series at Morse Stadium. This pivotal win adjusted Cochise's season record to 24-8 and momentarily slowed down CSN, who moved to 28-5 overall and 16-4 in conference play.
The contest began quietly but escalated in the second inning when Cochise surged ahead. A key highlight was Francisco Laya's two-run single, coupled with Alex Dabrowski's RBI, which together provided a swift three-run lead. Cochise expanded their advantage in the fourth inning with Laya once again delivering a crucial two-run single, totaling four RBIs for the game.
CSN didn't back down easily, rallying in the bottom halves of the innings. Chaz McNelis kick-started the scoring for CSN with a solo home run in the third, and the team managed to tie the game in the fourth, spurred by McNelis and Ashton Zacher who both contributed crucial RBI singles.
Mathis Nayral, the winning pitcher for Cochise, delivered a solid performance through four innings, striking out four but allowing three earned runs. Closer Collin Smith played a pivotal role, holding CSN scoreless over the last three innings to notch his fifth save of the season.
CSN's starter Kaden Soder endured a tough outing, striking out ten but eventually taking his second loss of the season. His efforts were supported by Kody Bialas, who provided two scoreless innings from the bullpen, but the early deficit proved too steep to overcome fully.
The defensive play saw a mix of sharp execution and costly errors. A throwing mistake by CSN's catcher, Anthony Marnell IV, led to a crucial unearned run which underscored the game's tight margins.
As the series stands at 1-1, the stage is set for a compelling finale. Both teams will be eager to clinch the series win, with CSN looking to bounce back and reassert their dominance, while Cochise aims to build on their momentum from this hard-fought victory. The anticipation for the series decider promises an intense showdown in ACCAC action.
