Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
SAN BERNARDINO — Jacquelyn Holtzclaw went a combined 3-for-6 on the day for Cal State San Bernardino as the Coyotes dropped a doubleheader 4-2 and 3-1 to Dixie State (Utah).
The Coyotes got on the board first in game one of the doubleheader when scored on a Felicia Cervantes sacrifice fly. Holtzclaw reached base with a long double to right center to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning. Holtzclaw then took third on a sacrifice bunt by Courtney Wilhelms before Cervantes' sac fly.
Dixie State answered in the top of the fifth. Cassi Merrill slugged a home run to tie the game at 1-1. Bailie Hicken doubled and took third on a sacrifice bunt before Anna Cue doubled to drive Merrill home for the 2-1 lead. Dixie State added a run in the sixth on a solo home run by Kylee Higgins.
In the seventh, the Red Storm scored a run to take a 4-1 lead and were threatening to do even more damage. With a runner at second base, Shantae Hunter lined a pitch into center field and the runner rounded third, but Holtzclaw made a perfect throw to catcher Alex Mitchell who tagged the runner for the third out of the inning.
CSUSB tried to mount a rally with a Priscilla Curiel walk followed by an Ashley Collinwood double to right center that scored Curiel, pulling the Coyotes within two. That was all the Coyotes could muster as Dixie State pitcher Lauren Folta (5-3) recorded the final out for the 4-2 victory. Coyotes' pitcher Brianne Godfredson (3-3) took the loss.
Dixie State wasted no time in game two, taking the lead in the first inning. Hicken singled, stole second, advanced to third on a fielder's choice, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kelsey Mendenhall. In the third inning, the Red Storm had taken a 2-0 lead and had a runner on second base when Mendenhall lined a bullet back to Coyotes pitcher Erica Prentice. Prentice threw her glove out and made a snow-cone catch to end the inning.
The Coyotes cut the lead to 2-1 in the fifth. Stefanie Pace doubled down the right field line and took third when Land hit into a fielder's choice. Prentice struck out swinging, but the ball got by the catcher on a wild pitch, allowing Pace to score and Prentice to reach first. Mitchell then hit a solid grounder and Prentice beat the throw to second, but Red Storm pitcher Brittnie Whipple (4-3) struck out the next batter to end the Coyote threat.
With the Red Storm leading 3-1, in the bottom of the seventh, the Coyotes tried to come back. Prentice blooped a single into center field and took second when she realized nobody was covering the base on the play. She advanced to third on a fielder's choice, but Whipple got the third out and the win. Prentice (2-2) also went the distance, giving up only four hits and two earned runs in the loss.
The Coyotes (7-14, 6-6 CCAA) welcome San Francisco State to San Bernardino this weekend. They play a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m. and another doubleheader Saturday at 11 a.m.
