SAN BERNARDINO (Feb. 3, 2017) – The Coyotes' Daniel Romo ripped a two-run home run in his first at-bat of the season, but No. 16 Dixie State was too strong and handed the Coyotes a 9-6 defeat in the season opener for both teams.

The two teams resume their four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday that begins at 11 a.m. at Fiscalini Field.

Romo got the Coyotes' offense going when he ripped his shot over  the left-field wall that also scored Lucas Martinez, who reached on a fielder's choice.

CSUSB extended the lead to 3-0 in the third on Martinez' sacrifice fly to right and 4-1 in the fourth. Damion Edmonds placed a sac bunt and scored Jordan Simon, who singled.

The Trailblazers tied the game at 4-4 in the fifth, with Logan Porter supplying a two-run shot over the center-field wall against Coyotes' starter Jon Ferrendelli.

The Coyotes regained the lead at 6-4 in their half of the inning. Martinez connected on a run-scoring single, and three batters later, Nick Grimes connected on a double down the right-field line.

But Dixie took the lead for good with a four-run seventh. Reece Lucero and Miles Bice each had two-run singles.

Ferrendelli went five innings and struck out five. Reliever Cory Peterson took the loss.