THATCHER, AZ — The College of Southern Nevada Lady Coyotes put up a valiant effort but ultimately fell short in the second game of their four-game series against the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters, losing 9-6 in a hard-fought ACCAC conference matchup. This result moved CSN to a 16-15 overall record and 12-6 in conference play.

The game started promisingly for the Lady Coyotes, with Camryn Hunkins leading the charge, hitting an inside-the-park home run, a triple, and driving in two runs. Jimena Barraza-Caro also contributed significantly, hitting a triple and tallying three RBIs. Despite these efforts, CSN struggled to contain Eastern Arizona's hitters, who consistently found gaps in CSN's defense.

Eastern Arizona's offense was equally dynamic, with Gianna Villegas and Taylor Christensen combining for five hits and driving in multiple runs. Illeana Casillos also played a crucial role, hitting a timely home run that contributed to Eastern's scoring surge in the later innings.

CSN's pitcher, Bryn Connors, faced challenges throughout the game, allowing nine runs on twelve hits. Despite her struggles, she managed to complete the game, but the relentless pressure from Eastern Arizona's lineup proved too much, overshadowing her two-hit and one-RBI performance at the plate.

Jolissa Valdez, pitching for Eastern Arizona, earned the win with a strong five-inning relief appearance, where she allowed three runs on seven hits while striking out five. Her performance was critical in stabilizing the game after CSN had built an early lead.

As the series continues, the Lady Coyotes will need to regroup and focus on their defensive game to counter Eastern Arizona's potent offense. The next games will be crucial for CSN as they aim to improve their standing in the ACCAC conference.