Box Score: Coyotes 3, SF State 2

SAN FRANCISCO -- Senior LHP Cory Caruso struck out a career-high 11 batters, but the most important one was the final one as visiting Cal State San Bernardino held off host San Francisco State in a 3-2 victory Sunday in CCAA baseball.

The Coyotes took the four-game series with three victories and improved to 25-16 overall and 22-14 in the CCAA. SFSU dropped to 15-30, 12-24.

Caruso, now 3-4 overall, was the story on this overcast day as he threw a complete game with 127 pitches. He gave up seven hits, allowed only two runs, one earned, and gave up just two walks.

Leading 3-1 in the ninth, the Gators threatened big-time, but CSUSB was up for the challenge.

The Gators sent six batters to the plate and Dustin Wold cut the lead to 3-2 on a one-out sacrifice fly to left that scored Matt Quintero, who led off the inning with a walk. With runners on first and second with two outs, Caruso earned his 11th strikeout when he struck out A.J. Almaraz looking to end the game for the win.

The game was 0-0 through four innings until the fifth when the Coyotes scored twice.

Mike Newell led off with a single and reached second on a sacrifice bunt from Ethan Chapman. Jake Pilkerton then delivered a double down the left-field line and the Coyotes had their first run.

Pilkerton advanced to third on wild pitch, and two batters later, Darren Dworak's sacrifice fly to right made the score 2-0.

The Gators answered with an unearned run off Caruso in the eighth, but CSUSB got the run back in the ninth. Newell singled to left center to score Edwin Mendoza, who led off with a walk.

Newell and Matt Haney each had two hits, while Chapman and Pilkerton had the other two.

The Coyotes complete the regular season this week with a four-game series against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The first two games are in Carson and the series moves to San Bernardino on Saturday with a doubleheader on Senior Day.