Box Score SAN BERNARDINO -- Senior LHP Kerry Kelley has been a go-to guy for the Coyotes throughout the 2014 campaign.

The Palmdale native deserved a better fate, but was dealt a 6-1 loss to No. 8 Chico State in the teams' four-game series opener Thursday afternoon at Fiscalini Field.

The loss dropped the Coyotes to 11-29 overall and 9-20 CCAA, with the Wildcats improving to 31-7. 23-6. The teams return to Fiscalini on Friday in a doubleheader that begins at 11 a.m.

Four of the five runs Kelley allowed were unearned as the Coyotes were undone by a three-run Wildcats' second inning in which all runs were unearned.

Trailing 1-0 through one inning, the Wildcats built their inning on a pair of Coyotes' miscues. Consecutive errors put runners at second and third with one out. Ryne Clark drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, and one batter later, Eric Angerer drove a Kelley delivery over the left-field wall for a two-run shot and Chico State led 4-0.

The Coyotes got on the scoreboard on Nick Oddo's solo shot to lead off the second. It was just the second home run for the Coyotes since Feb. 22.

Kelley did his best to keep the Coyotes within three runs. After Angerer's home run, Kelley retired the next 13 Wildcats until Connor Huesers reached base on a leadoff hit by pitch in the seventh.

Oddo had two hits as CSUSB outhit the Wildcats, 9-8.

Walker went 2-for-3 for Chico State.

Wildcats RHP Nick Baker was solid in the 1 hour and 54-minute game. He improved to 9-1 with one strikeout. His effectiveness was aided by his defense -- the nation's top-ranked fielding team -- as he induced the Coyotes into nine one-pitch outs.