HENDERSON, Nev. (May 10, 2025) — A remarkable 2025 season came to a close for the College of Southern Nevada baseball team on Saturday afternoon, as the top-seeded Coyotes fell 17-9 to #3 Central Arizona College in Game Three of the Region 1 Championship Series at Morse Stadium. With the loss, CSN finishes the season 46-13 overall, earning the Region 1 runner-up distinction after claiming the ACCAC regular-season title.

In a contest packed with offense—32 combined hits, 26 total runs, and 6 home runs—it was the Vaqueros who had the last word. Central Arizona's relentless lineup piled on across all nine innings, seizing momentum with a pair of five-run frames and handing CSN just its second series loss of the year.

Southern Nevada stormed out of the gates with a three-run first inning, ignited by leadoff man Chaz McNelis who reached on a walk and later scored on a single by Roy Durham. Tyler Garritano and Kaiden Smaka followed with an RBI single and groundout, respectively, to build a 3-0 advantage.

After Central Arizona responded with two in the second—including a solo homer from Zach Wadas and an RBI single from Ty Kennedy—CSN kept rolling in the bottom half. McNelis knocked an RBI single and later scored on a hit from Harvey Smerdon to push the lead to 5-2.

But from there, the Vaqueros' bats exploded.

Trailing by three entering the third, Central Arizona sent 10 batters to the plate in a five-run inning. After starter Tyler Avery allowed the first two runners to reach, CSN turned to reliever Logan Smith (6-2), but he was unable to stem the tide. A key blow came when Antonio Gianni blasted a three-run homer to left-center, part of a five-hit barrage that flipped the game 7-5 in the Vaqueros' favor.

Though McNelis homered to trim the deficit to 9-6 in the fourth, Central Arizona unleashed another offensive outburst in the fifth. Tyree Reed delivered an RBI double, Easton Rulli added a run-scoring two-bagger, and Wadas crushed his second homer of the game to right field. On the next at-bat, Max Stagg launched a solo shot of his own, capping a five-run inning that widened the gap to 14-6.

Stagg would homer again in the seventh as part of a 4-for-6, 4-RBI day. Gianni finished a triple shy of the cycle, scoring twice and driving in four runs. In total, seven Vaqueros recorded multi-hit efforts, with Reed, Rulli, and Kennedy each adding key extra-base hits. Gianni also swiped a base and reached four times.

Southern Nevada used seven pitchers in total, with Avery, Smith, Kody Bialas, Evan Festa, Simon Lemke, Andrew Kaplan, and Boston Jensen each seeing action. The staff combined to surrender 23 hits, including five doubles, a triple, and six home runs.

The Coyotes didn't go quietly. Durham reached base four times, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two walks. Garritano walked three times and drove in one, and catcher Teddy Chartier collected a pair of RBI singles. McNelis finished 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs, two RBI, and two stolen bases, capping a strong postseason run.

CSN plated three runs in the fifth to bring the score to 14-9, chasing starter Brock Johnson. However, Central Arizona's bullpen, led by reliever Marcus Metz (1-0), held the Coyotes scoreless over the final four innings. Metz allowed just three hits and one earned run while striking out four in a five-inning outing that sealed the win and the Region 1 title for the Vaqueros.

CSN had one last opportunity in the ninth after a Durham single and two walks loaded the bases. But a flyout and fielder's choice ended the rally—and the season—for the Coyotes, who finish as ACCAC regular-season champions and Region 1 runners-up.

It was a campaign marked by explosive offense, elite pitching depth, and one of the top win totals in the program's history. While Saturday's loss stings, the Coyotes' 2025 season will be remembered for a 46-win effort, an ACCAC title, and hosting the Region 1 Championship Series at home in front of their fans at Morse Stadium.

The College of Southern Nevada wraps up the 2025 season with a 46-13 record, an ACCAC regular-season championship, and a Region 1 Championship Series appearance. It marks another year of excellence for the Coyotes baseball program, which continues to set the standard in the Southwest.