COOLIDGE, AZ – The College of Southern Nevada faced a tough loss against Central Arizona College in the opening game of their three-game ACCAC series, falling 11-3 on Friday. The defeat drops the Coyotes to 30-7 overall and 16-6 in conference play.
CSN started strong with a run in each of the first three innings, including a driven RBI double by Anthony Marnell IV in the first, bringing in Ashton Zacher from first. However, their early 3-0 lead would quickly dissipate as Central Arizona rallied in the third inning.
The turning point came in the bottom of the third when Central Arizona's Z. Wadas hit a three-run homer, part of a four-run inning that shifted the momentum entirely in favor of the Vaqueros. Wadas continued his hot streak, contributing significantly with a total of four RBIs and three hits, including a double and a home run.
Central Arizona extended their lead with a single run in the fourth and exploded for four more runs in the fifth, capitalizing on CSN's pitching struggles. The Vaqueros then added two final runs in the sixth to secure their commanding lead. J. Hergert earned the win for the Vaqueros, pitching 4.1 innings and giving up three runs. T. Logan notched the save with 2.2 innings of shutout ball, striking out three.
CSN's starting pitcher Kaden Soder took the loss, allowing five earned runs over four innings. The Coyotes' bullpen couldn't stem the tide, with relievers Mason Reichartz and Simon Lemke facing significant challenges in the middle innings.
Despite the loss, CSN saw some bright spots from their lineup. Ashton Zacher went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Harvey Smerdon reached base three times, scoring once. However, the team struggled to convert these opportunities into runs, leaving seven on base throughout the game.
The Coyotes will look to rebound in the second game of the series, hoping to tighten their defense and capitalize on scoring opportunities. With the season progressing towards the playoffs, every game becomes crucial for positioning in the competitive ACCAC standings.
