HENDERSON, Nev. — The College of Southern Nevada Coyotes opened the 2026 Manny Guerra Border Battle with a hard-fought 5–4 victory over New Mexico Junior College Thursday afternoon at Lied Field | Morse Stadium.

CSN scored three runs in the second inning and added timely runs in the fourth to build a lead it would not relinquish, improving to 5–0 on the season in the opening game of the tournament.

The Coyotes struck first in the bottom of the second inning after Alex Rhynes worked a walk and later scored on a balk. Moments later, Carson Anderson delivered the big swing of the inning, ripping a two-run double down the left-field line to score Michael Albanese and Evan Festa, giving CSN an early 3–0 advantage.

New Mexico Junior College got on the board in the fourth with a solo home run, but the Coyotes answered immediately. Festa reached on an error and stole second before Anderson drove him home with an RBI single. Harvey Smerdon followed with a triple to right-center field, plating Anderson to push the lead to 5–1.

The Thunderbirds made things interesting in the fifth inning, scoring three runs to close the gap to one, highlighted by a two-run double and an RBI single. CSN's bullpen responded from there, holding NMJC scoreless over the final two innings.

On the mound, Dylan Venturini earned the win, allowing one run on one hit over four innings while striking out three. Mayson Reichartz worked the fifth inning before Boston Jensen closed the door, tossing two shutout innings with three strikeouts to earn the save.

Offensively, Anderson led the Coyotes, going 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs. Smerdon added a triple and an RBI, while Festa scored twice and swiped a base. CSN finished with five runs on five hits and drew four walks in the win.

With the opening victory secured, the Coyotes will face New Mexico Junior College again later this evening in game two of the Manny Guerra Border Battle at Morse Stadium.