HENDERSON, Nev. — May 8, 2026 — The College of Southern Nevada opened the 2026 NJCAA Region 1 Softball Championship with a 5–3 loss to Central Arizona College on Friday afternoon at Lady Coyote Field.
Despite collecting 13 hits, the Lady Coyotes were unable to capitalize on several scoring opportunities as the Vaqueras used a late three-run sixth inning to secure the victory.
CSN struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Ciana Cubi singled to open the frame before Miken Jacobsen and Jaydah Chun followed with bunt singles to load the bases. Jimena Barraza-Caro then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Cubi to score and give the Lady Coyotes a 1–0 lead.
Central Arizona answered in the top of the third inning. Alexis Mulligan and Luci Roche opened the inning with singles before LuLu Erkal delivered an RBI single. Following an outfield error, the Vaqueras plated two runs to take a 2–1 advantage.
The Lady Coyotes responded in the fourth inning with another rally. Barraza-Caro worked a walk and stole second before Breya Hee singled to put runners on the corners. Hee then stole second, and Reggi Frei lined a two-run single to center field to score both runners and put CSN back in front 3–2.
Central Arizona threatened again in the fifth inning, but the Lady Coyotes escaped the inning without surrendering a run.
The turning point came in the sixth inning when the Vaqueras produced three runs on three hits. Mulligan delivered an RBI single to tie the game before Roche connected on a two-run home run to center field, giving Central Arizona a 5–3 lead.
CSN mounted one final push in the seventh inning. Ellie Leatham singled to begin the inning and Cubi added another hit to put two runners aboard. Chun later worked a walk to load the bases with two outs, but Central Arizona recorded the final out to hold on for the win.
The Lady Coyotes finished with 13 hits in the contest. Frei led the offense with three hits and two RBIs, while Cubi added three hits and scored a run. Hee collected two hits and scored once, and Barraza-Caro added a hit, RBI, walk, and stolen base. Chun, Jacobsen, and Leatham also contributed hits in the effort.
In the circle, Brooklynn Richardson went the distance for CSN, allowing five runs (four earned) on 11 hits while striking out four.
With the loss, the Lady Coyotes move into an elimination game scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Friday against Eastern Arizona College at Lady Coyote Field.
