Box Score

SAN BERNARDINO — Aaron Brooks threw a complete-game shutout and James Kono went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to lead Cal State San Bernardino past San Francisco State 7-0 in game one of a four-game series.

Brooks (6-1) gave up six hits and three walks and struck out six. His performance tied him for the CCAA lead in wins.

Kono's home run with one aboard in the bottom of the second gave the Coyotes an early 2-0 lead. Robert Archuleta, who was playing his first game of the year, made it 4-0 with an RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and an RBI single in the sixth.

The Coyotes broke the game open with a three-run rally in the seventh. Bryant Veiga led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a Ryan Hulbert walk and came around to score when Kono smacked a single up the middle. Brent Planck then drove a ball down the left field line to plate two and extended the Coyote lead to 7-0.

The Gators put runners at the corners in the top of the ninth with no outs and threatened to spoil the Coyotes' shutout. However, Sean Proni hit a hard grounder back to the mound and Brooks threw to Planck at third who tagged the lead runner out. Brooks then struck out the final two batters to nail down the victory.

The bottom three of the Coyotes order – Kono, Planck, and Archuleta – came up big in the game. The trio combined for seven hits in ten at-bats, seven RBIs, and three runs.

The Coyotes improve their record to 22-13 overall and 21-12 in the CCAA while the Gators drop to 19-24 and 12-17 I the CCAA. Spencer Kreisberg (2-6) took the loss for San Francisco State.

The teams meet again in a Saturday doubleheader which kicks off at noon.