COOLIDGE, AZ — The College of Southern Nevada's baseball team faced a tough defeat, losing 9-1 to Central Arizona College in the series finale on Saturday. This loss moved CSN's record to 30-9 overall and 16-8 in ACCAC play, while Central Arizona improved to 23-10.

The game started as a pitcher's duel, with neither team able to score in the first three innings. Both squads battled fiercely, but it was Central Arizona that broke the deadlock in the fifth inning, leveraging a couple of hits and a critical error by CSN to put two runs on the board.

Central Arizona's offense exploded in the sixth inning, adding six more runs to the scoreboard. D. Ballenill was a standout performer, driving in three runs, including a two-run single that spearheaded the rally. He capped his day with a solo home run in the seventh inning, cementing a dominant victory for the Vaqueros.

CSN's pitchers struggled to contain Central Arizona as the game progressed. Starter Tyler Avery initially held the line but ran into trouble in the later innings. Logan Smith and Evan Festa, who followed from the bullpen, were unable to stem the tide, collectively conceding eight runs amidst a series of hit batters and defensive missteps.

On the offensive side, CSN managed only four hits for the day, with Roy Durham's double being one of the few highlights. The team's lone run came in the fifth inning when Harvey Smerdon drove in Jack Wheatley, who had managed to reach base earlier in the inning.

Central Arizona's pitcher K. Fyke delivered a strong performance, striking out seven and allowing just one earned run over six innings. C. LaFave closed the game with a perfect seventh, striking out the side to end any hopes of a CSN comeback.

This series finale was a tough lesson for CSN, demonstrating the challenges of maintaining consistency in conference play. The team will look to regroup and address their shortcomings as they continue their quest for a top spot in the ACCAC standings.