SAN BERNARDINO (May 6, 2016) -- Four months ago, CCAA coaches believed that the Cal State San Bernardino would struggle in its first season under head coach Dave Martinez.

The Coyotes were predicted to finish last after earning just 23 wins in the previous two seasons.

After Friday's 8-4 victory over Cal State L.A., those same Coyotes will play in their first postseason in four years.

A stellar relief effort from freshman RHP Noah Simon and timely hitting by a multitude of Coyotes (22-26, 17-19 CCAA) were the difference makers on an overcast afternoon at Fiscalini Field.

Brian Lockey homered for the second straight game, and two-run doubles from Dylan Lohman and William Ouellette put the Coyotes in control.

Simon entered the game with one out in the third in relief of starter Brian Conley. He worked out of the jam with CSULA leading 4-3, but eventually retired nine straight Golden Eagles.

By the time Simon (3-1) left the game the Coyotes were leading 7-4. He gave up just two hits in his four innings with two walks.

Lohman keyed the second inning in which CSUSB scored three runs. His two-run double to left center tied the game at 2-2, and he scored when Damion Edmonds reached on a bunt, and Lohman kept on running to home and CSUSB led 3-2.

CSULA scored two more in the third, but Lockey came through in the third on a sac fly to center that scored Grant Buchanan.

Ouellette punched his two-run double in the fourth to score Andrew Lopez (walk) and Edmonds (single).

CSUSB pushed the lead to 7-4 in the sixth, and Lockey connected on a leadoff dinger to left center in the seventh.

Edmonds finished 4-for-4 and Buchanan was 3-for-4.

Cory Peterson relieved Simon in the seventh and had a key strikeout on Paul Martinez to end the inning.

CSULA dropped to 15-31, 14-21.