HENDERSON, Nev. — May 8, 2026 — The College of Southern Nevada saw its historic 2026 season come to an end Friday afternoon with a 13–2 loss to Eastern Arizona College in an elimination game at the NJCAA Region 1 Softball Tournament at Lady Coyote Field.
Despite the postseason exit, the Lady Coyotes completed one of the most successful seasons in program history, capturing the program's first ACCAC Regular Season Championship and earning the right to host the Region 1 Tournament after finishing the regular season with a 32–20 overall record and 21–11 mark in conference play.
Eastern Arizona broke through in the second inning to take an early lead. The Gila Monsters loaded the bases before RBI singles from Analise Montiel and Vanessa Gavigan gave Eastern Arizona a 2–0 advantage.
The lead grew in the third inning after a defensive miscue allowed Jessica Szelenyi to reach base. Kaylisa Nakoa followed with a two-run home run to extend the lead to 4–0, and Eastern Arizona later added another unearned run to move ahead 5–0.
The Gila Monsters continued to build momentum in the fourth inning. Nakoa delivered an RBI single before Hunter Jackson added an RBI fielder's choice to push the lead to 7–0.
Eastern Arizona broke the game open in the sixth inning with six runs on six hits. Karen Castro delivered the biggest hit of the inning with a three-run home run, while Gavigan added a two-run double as the Gila Monsters stretched the lead to 13–0.
The Lady Coyotes answered in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mariela Rodriguez worked a walk and advanced on a single from Athena Tonga'onevai. After a defensive error loaded the bases, Chloe Tepraseuth lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Rodriguez. Later in the inning, Justice Lavin reached on an error that allowed Tonga'onevai to score, trimming the deficit to 13–2.
CSN finished with five hits in the contest. Jimena Barraza-Caro, Tonga'onevai, Ellie Leatham, Tepraseuth, and Reggi Frei each recorded hits for the Lady Coyotes.
In the circle, Haylee Holloway started for CSN before Haley Horst and Brooklynn Richardson worked in relief.
Eastern Arizona totaled 14 hits in the win, led by Nakoa's three-hit, three-RBI performance and a three-run home run from Castro.
Although the season ended short of a Region 1 title, the 2026 Lady Coyotes established a new benchmark for the program. CSN claimed its first ACCAC Regular Season Championship, earned the No. 1 seed in the Region 1 Tournament, and hosted postseason play at Lady Coyote Field after a memorable season filled with milestone accomplishments.
