ARCATA, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino softball team won its series opener against Cal Poly Humboldt on Friday before game two was suspended due to darkness on Thursday at the Humboldt Softball Field.

With the win, the Coyotes improve to 19-18 overall and 8-9 in the CCAA.

The Coyotes won the first game 7-4. Due to darkness and thanks in part to a rain delay, game two was suspended in the bottom of the sixth with the Coyotes trailing 7-5. The game will be completed prior to Saturday's doubleheader, and the full recap of the contest will be featured on CSUSBAthletics.com on Saturday when the game is completed.

In the first game of the day, Humboldt jumped out to an early lead on a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. 

In the top of the fourth, the Coyotes answered back with a pair of sacrifice flies, coming off the bats of seniors Ashley Legler (San Diego, Calif.) and Brooke Brazill (Clovis, Calif.). An error on Legler's sac fly allowed the third Coyote run to come in, giving the Yotes their first lead of the contest.

An inning later, the Yotes stretched their lead to four with their second straight three-spot. Senior Mia Escujuri (Chino, Calif.) drove in CSUSB's fourth run with a sac fly, before junior Isabella Venegas (Upland, Calif.) hit a bomb off the scoreboard in left for a two-run shot to put the Coyotes ahead 6-2. 

The Lumberjacks drew to within two with a pair in the bottom of the fifth, but Coyote senior Iris Bejarano (Salinas, Calif.) gave the Yotes some insurance with an RBI single in the top of the sixth for some insurance. 

After six strong in the circle from Legler, sophomore reliever Ava Paquin (Fullerton, Calif.) came into the game in the bottom of the seventh and slammed the door shut for her fourth save of the season. Legler got the win, going six innings with four earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts.

At the dish, Venegas led the way for the Coyotes, going 3-for-4 and finishing a triple shy of the cycle. Brazill and sophomore Iliana Mejia (Beaumont, Calif.) each had a pair of hits in the win.

The suspended game will be completed on Friday, as well as games three and four of the series. First pitch in the continuation is slated for 11 a.m.
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