AZUSA, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino baseball team opened the 2025 season by knocking off Azusa Pacific University 12-4 Friday evening in non-conference action at the Cougar Baseball Complex.

With the win, CSUSB opens its season with a mark of 1-0.

The Coyotes did the entirety of their offensive damage in the top of the fourth inning, when 12 Coyotes crossed home plate. 

Senior Tyler Vanneste (Warman, Saskatchewan) opened the scoring for the Yotes with a two-run double with the bases load to put CSUSB ahead 2-1, before Adrian Hinojosa Jr. (Chula Vista, Calif.) crossed home plate on a wild pitch. 

A bases-loaded walk from senior Jason Shedlock (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) put the Yotes ahead by three, followed by an RBI fielder's choice from Wyatt Hall (Port Angeles, Wash.), an RBI groundout from Daryl Ruiz (Corona, Calif.), and an RBI single from Tank Rodriguez (Fontana, Calif.). 

Vanneste's third and fourth RBIs of the inning came on his second two-run double in as many at-bats, extending the Coyote lead to 9-1, and in the next at-bat, senior Jacob Mejia (Palm Desert, Calif.) put an exclamation point on the 12-run frame with a three-run homer over the right field fence.

Azusa Pacific struck for a single run in the bottom of the fourth and two in the bottom of the eighth, but the comeback run fell far short as CSUSB claimed the season-opening win.

Rodriguez and Vanneste led the way offensively for CSUSB, each recording a pair of hits in the win. Junior Dom Dominguez (Victorville, Calif.) went 1-for-3 with a double and a pair of runs scored in his first collegiate game. 

Sophomore Ivan Rodriguez (San Bernardino, Calif.) got the win on the bump for CSUSB, throwing 4.1 innings and allowing three earned runs with six strikeouts. 

The teams will continue their three-game home-and-home series on Saturday with a doubleheader at Fiscalini Field. First pitch in game one is slated for 12 p.m.

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