HENDERSON, NV — The College of Southern Nevada Coyotes continued their strong performance in the ACCAC conference play, defeating the Arizona Western College Matadors 9-3 in a commanding fashion on Saturday at Morse Stadium. This victory extends their winning streak and improves their record to 35-10 overall and 20-9 in conference play.

The game saw CSN pitcher Evan Festa earn his second win of the season, delivering a solid four-inning relief appearance where he allowed no runs and struck out three, stabilizing the game after an early lead by the Matadors. Lukas Pacal of AWC suffered the loss, conceding five runs over six innings, with some unearned runs due to defensive errors.

The Matadors initially took the lead, scoring in each of the first three innings, including an RBI single by Andres Ontiveros in the first. However, their momentum was short-lived as the Coyotes tied the game in the bottom of the first with a solo home run by Chaz McNelis and took control in the fourth with two more runs.

The decisive moment came in the eighth inning when CSN broke the game open. Kaiden Smaka's leadoff home run ignited a four-run rally, compounded by errors and aggressive base running from the Coyotes. Jack Wheatley and Harvey Smerdon delivered crucial RBIs to cap off the inning, putting the game out of reach for Arizona Western.

Defensively, the Coyotes played solidly despite a single error and were able to turn critical double plays to escape potential rallies by the Matadors. The bullpen, including Blake Uribe and Boston Jensen, locked down the late innings, preserving the lead established by their offense.

Arizona Western struggled to capitalize on their early opportunities, and defensive missteps in critical moments allowed the Coyotes to extend their lead. The Matadors' pitchers also found it tough to contain the Coyotes' hitters, who racked up 13 hits, showcasing their depth and ability to drive in runs throughout the lineup.

The Coyotes' will continue to lean on their strength in both pitching and hitting as they look to continue their dominance in the ACCAC standings. With this win, CSN not only secured the series but also set a high benchmark for their performance in upcoming games.