Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
SAN BERNARDINO — Cal State San Bernardino staved off a four-game sweep Saturday with a 13-5 run rule over Cal State Dominguez Hills after falling 5-2 for the third straight time.
The Coyotes (25-25, 17-14 CCAA) left 10 runners on base in the opener, but unloaded the bases and bats with 15 hits in the nightcap. That leaves CSUSB just a half game out of fourth behind UC San Diego and tied with Chico State. The Coyotes host UCSD in the final series of the year Friday and Saturday while Chico hosts Cal State Stanislaus.
After neither team scored in the first four innings and each left five on base in the opener, Cal State Dominguez Hills broke through in the fifth with four runs. Emiley McEwen drove in the first two runs with a single to left center. Jackie Reyes made it 3-0 with a single to left field before Jessica Hall drove a run in with a fielder's choice.
The Coyotes got a run back in the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run to center by Alex Mitchell; her first of the year.
CSUDH took a 5-1 lead in the sixth on a an Amber Angel single up the middle, but the Coyotes answered in the bottom of the sixth when Courtney Wilhelms singled back up the middle to score Priscilla Curiel, who doubled to lead off the inning.
The Coyotes left 10 on base while the Toros' staff of Lauren Harper and Stephanie Jimenez combined to allow just two runs on nine hits. Harper (9-6) picked up the win while Jimenez notched her fourth save. Cassidy Lee (9-6) took the loss after throwing the first four innings.
The Toros quickly jumped out in the nightcap, scoring three in the top of the first, but the Coyotes answered with eight in the bottom half of the inning. The first run scored on a Toro error before a Felicia Cervantes fielder's choice scored the second run. Alyssa Flores gave the Coyotes their first lead of the game with her first home run of her career to put CSUSB up 5-3. Britney Butler added two more with a triple to left field before Jamie Leffingwell singled to center to put CSUSB up 8-3.
The Toros cut it to 8-5 in the top of the second, but Mitchell stretched it to a 10-5 lead for the Coyotes with a double down the left field line in the bottom half of the inning. Leffingwell hit her third home of the year in the bottom of the third to give the Coyotes an 11-5 lead.
CSUSB added two more in the fourth on a Mitchell fielder's choice and a Leffingwell sacrifice fly to right to take the 13-5 lead.
Flores led the way at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Leffingwell was 2-for-2 with three RBIs and two runs scored while Mitchell went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and a run scored. Butler had a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored.
Brianne Godfredson (9-6) picked up the win after throwing the final four innings of play.
The Coyotes and Tritons will go at it Friday at 1 p.m. and Saturday at noon.
