HENDERSON, NV — In a pivotal early-season matchup, the College of Southern Nevada's Lady Coyotes demonstrated their defensive prowess and strategic base running to defeat the Central Arizona College Vaqueras 3-0 in the opening game of their four-game ACCAC conference series. The win at their home field on Friday brought the Lady Coyotes' overall record to an even 9-9, while they remain unbeaten in conference play with a 5-0 record.
Pitcher Mckenna Cahoon of the Lady Coyotes led her team from the mound, delivering a standout performance by pitching a complete shutout. Allowing only one hit and striking out five, Cahoon earned her first win of the season, a much-needed boost bringing her record to 1-5. Her counterpart, M. Rodriguez of the Vaqueras, suffered the loss, moving to a 1-1 season record after yielding three runs over three innings.
The Lady Coyotes were quick to take the lead in the first inning thanks to a strategic play: Jimena Barraza-Caro stole home during a caught stealing play that saw Chole Makinney thrown out at second, capitalizing on an early fielding error by Vaqueras' second baseman.
The third inning saw the Lady Coyotes extend their lead with two more runs. Destinee Lopez's RBI double to center field drove Chole Makinney home, followed by Ellie Olson's sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Miken Jacobsen to score. These plays highlighted the Lady Coyotes' ability to clutch at crucial moments, giving them a three-run cushion that their defense would staunchly defend.
Despite the Vaqueras' efforts to ignite a rally, they struggled to make significant inroads against Cahoon's commanding presence on the mound. The Vaqueras only managed a single hit throughout the game, a lone single by K. Garcilazo in the sixth inning, which failed to translate into scoring as subsequent batters were quickly retired.
Fielding errors also troubled the Vaqueras, with A. Mulligan and D. Quinonez each committing a mishap that partly facilitated the Lady Coyotes' scoring drives. On the other side, the Lady Coyotes played a tight game despite a rare error by M. Rodriguez at second base.
As the series progresses, the Lady Coyotes aim to maintain their flawless conference record and climb higher in the standings. Meanwhile, the Vaqueras, now 5-12 overall, will look to regroup and challenge in the remaining games of the series, seeking redemption and a chance to upset the conference standings.
With three more games to go in this ACCAC series, the Lady Coyotes have set a competitive tone that promises more thrilling softball action over the weekend.
