SAN BERNARDINO -- Senior LHP Cory Caruso kept the Sonoma State batters off balance as he threw four-hit ball over six innings with nine strikeouts as his Coyotes defeated the Seawolves 4-2 in Saturday's opener of a CCAA baseball doubleheader.

The Seawolves came back to earn the seven-inning second game 5-3.

The two teams will complete the weekend series with a nine-inning game Sunday. First pitch is 11 a.m.

Coyotes 4, Sonoma State 2 (Box Score: click here)

Down 2-0 in the first inning, the Coyotes answered with two runs of their own in the first. Matt Winn reached on a fielder's choice that drove in Curtis Cassise, who walked. Edwin Mendoza, who reached on a single to left, later scored on an error by the Sonoma State catcher.

The Coyotes got the lead for good with one run in the fifth. Ethan Chapman hit a one-out single to short, and advanced to second and third on separate errors. Cassise drove in Chapman on a sacrifice fly to right.

In the sixth, the Coyotes got their insurance run. Winn got on base with a one-out single, stole second and eventually scored when Paul Eshleman got on base on an error by the first baseman, scoring Winn.

Caruso allowed four hits, two runs -- both earned. Coyotes middle relievers Kerry Kelley and Tony Guerra threw a combined two shutout innings and did not allow a hit. All-American Josh Pond earned his first save in the ninth, although he did have three walks and two strikeouts.

Ethan Chapman and Darren Dworak each had two hits.

Sonoma State 5, Coyotes 3 (Box Score: click here)

The Seawolves produced a three-run fourth inning and held on for the 7-inning win.

Tied at 1-1, SSU scored three runs on three hits for the lead.

Ethan Chapman had the Coyotes' only extra-base hit.  

LHP Josh Lee (0-1) took the loss. He allowed three home runs and threw 5 1/3 innings with six hits and seven strikeouts.