THATCHER, AZ (May 9, 2025) – The College of Southern Nevada Lady Coyotes delivered a clutch performance in the Region 1 Championship Tournament, knocking off No. 1 seed Eastern Arizona College, 7-5, in an elimination game Friday afternoon at Eastern Arizona College. With the win, CSN improves to 27-24 overall and advances to face No. 4 seed Yavapai College at 11:00 a.m. Saturday in another win-or-go-home matchup.

The Lady Coyotes came out swinging, pounding out 12 hits—including multi-hit efforts from Camryn Hunkins, Jimena Barraza-Caro, Chloe Makinney, and Chaleah Workman—to send the host team home early. Hunkins led the way with a 2-for-5 performance, driving in two runs and scoring once. Makinney reached base three times, knocked in two runs, and was hit by a pitch to help CSN build a lead they never relinquished.

CSN jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Makinney was hit by a pitch and came around to score on a two-out RBI double from Justice Lavin. The Lady Coyotes added two more in the second inning as Destinee Lopez singled to lead off, Brytnee Caldwell scored on an error, and Hunkins laced a single to drive in Workman for a 3-0 advantage.

In the third, Marlene Saldate knocked in Lopez to push the lead to 4-0 before Eastern Arizona mounted a rally. The Gila Monsters plated three runs in the bottom of the third, including a two-run triple from Ocearn Mathews, cutting CSN's lead to 4-3.

Refusing to back down, the Coyotes responded with runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Barraza-Caro and Makinney set the table in both frames, with Lavin and Hunkins delivering productive outs to plate additional runs. Makinney's RBI single in the fifth capped the scoring for CSN, extending the lead to 7-3.

Freshman pitcher Bryn Connors started in the circle and worked through early pressure, allowing three runs over three innings. Sophomore London Lamb entered in relief and earned the win, scattering five hits and striking out three over four strong innings. Lamb worked out of a jam in the seventh after Eastern Arizona scored twice on three hits, stranding the tying run at the plate to seal the win.

Defensively, CSN turned multiple key plays, including a caught stealing and a strong throw from Lopez behind the plate to catch a runner in the fourth. Although the Coyotes committed two errors, timely pitching and clean fielding in key moments helped them stay in control.

With the victory, CSN sets up a Saturday showdown with Yavapai College in another elimination game. The winner will advance to face No. 3 seed Arizona Western College in the Region 1 Championship, needing to defeat the Matadors twice to earn a trip to the NJCAA National Tournament in Yuma, Arizona.

First pitch against Yavapai is set for 11:00 a.m. MST. Fans can watch live at: https://www.youtube.com/@eacmonsters