IRVINE (May 10, 2018) — Unranked CSUSB nearly accomplished an upset to remember in its 5-4 loss to No. 18 Dixie State in the NCAA West 2 sub-regional opener Thursday afternoon.
 
The Coyotes, who trailed 5-0 entering the top of the seventh, scored four runs on just one out — thanks to a solo home run by All-West Region choice Jessica Brown, and a three-run shot from pinch-hitter Caitlyn Olan.
 
The Coyotes continued their threat with runners on first and second with two outs, but the upset win did not go their way with pinch-hitter Ashley Leffingwell's fly ball to center caught.
 
CSUSB (30-21) face Academy of Art — a 3-0 loser to host and No. 2 seed Concordia — at 12:30 p.m. Friday in an elimination game.
 
Dixie State struck with four runs in the first on four hits off Coyotes' starter Bailey Powell.
 
Monica Maddox gave CSUSB its first hit of the game with a double through the left-side of the infield in the fourth, and Morgan Ratliff singled in the sixth. But CSUSB left only three runners on base through six against the Trailblazers' Cambrie Hazel.
 
In the seventh, Brown came through with a lead-off homer, her school-record tying 15^th of the season.
 
Sydney Kreimann then walked and Dominique Walker reached on an error. After Briana Quintana flew out to center, coach Jim Maier made the call to pinch-hit Taylor Ancona with Olan.
 
The Oakley senior powered a long, flyball that cleared the left-center gap and the Coyotes were within a run of the lead.
 
Jamiana Gateb followed with a single, but was later thrown out on an attempted steal. Samantha Vacko answered with a single up the middle and Ratliff drew a walk to set up the ninth batter of the inning.
 
Maier called up Leffingwell to pinch-hit for Maddox and the San Bernardino lifted a flyball to center to end the threat.
 
On the mound, Powell took the loss going four innings. She allowed eight hits, five runs — four earned — and struck out one with a walk. Freshman RHP Kendra O'Cull and senior RHP Amanda Ramirez each threw a scoreless inning of relief.
 
Dixie State improved to 39-8 and faces Concordia at 10 a.m. Friday.