LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino softball team split a non-conference doubleheader Friday to open the West Coast Challenge at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park.

CSUSB opened the day with a 5-3 win over Western New Mexico University, before falling 4-0 to Colorado Mesa University in the nightcap. The results see the Yotes move to 4-3 on the young season.

Game 1: Cal State San Bernardino 5, Western New Mexico 3

The Coyotes fell behind early in their opening, as Western New Mexico took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Yotes responded quickly. On an 0-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the first, redshirt sophomore Danyelle Castillo (Atwater, Calif.) hit the gap for an RBI double, leveling the score at 1-1.

CSUSB took the lead for good in the bottom of the third, when senior Iris Bejarano (Salinas, Calif.) belted her second home run in as many games to give the Coyotes a 2-1 lead.

The score was still 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth when the Yotes broke the contest open by scoring three times. Senior pitcher Ashley Legler (San Diego, Calif.) helped her own cause by connecting on an opposite field two-run home run to put the Coyotes ahead 4-1. In the next at-bat, junior Katie Griego (Rialto, Calif.) hit one out as well for back-to-back homers, giving the Yotes a four-run cushion.

Western New Mexico mounted a rally in the top of the seventh, hitting a two-run homer and bringing the tying run to the plate, but sophomore Ava Paquin (Fullerton, Calif.) came into the game in relief and slammed the door shut to give the Coyotes a 5-3 victory.

Seven different Coyotes recorded a hit in the victory, led by a 1-for-2 outing with two RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk for Legler. She looked sharp in the circle as well, picking up her third win of the season. She threw 6.2 innings, allowing three earned on six hits with three strikeouts.

Game 2: Colorado Mesa 4, Cal State San Bernardino 0

CSUSB ran into red hot pitching in game two of their doubleheader, resulting in their first shutout defeat of the season. 

The game remained scoreless until the top of the fourth inning, when Colorado Mesa recorded a single run to go ahead 1-0. They would score twice in the fifth and once in the sixth to account for all of the game's offense. 

The Yotes loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning looking to mount a comeback, but left them stranded. In all, the Coyotes left seven runners on base in the loss.

CSUSB had only three hits in the defeat, two of which off the bat of senior catcher Madison Zaro (Chino, Calif.). The loss went to starter Paquin, who allowed one earned run on four hits over 3.2 innings pitched.

CSUSB will continue play at the West Coast Challenge on Saturday with contests against Regis and Lubbock Christian at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. respectively.