LAS VEGAS – After seven innings of a pitcher's duel, Cal State San Bernardino exploded for seven runs in the eighth inning for a 9-2 victory over Saint Martin's at the Desert Stinger.
The Saints (0-3) were one out away from a 2-1 victory when a stolen base forced a throw, allowing the tying run to cross the plate and sent the game into the extra innings. Cal State San Bernardino (3-0) erupted for seven run in extra innings, highlighted by a three-run home run with two outs.
The Coyotes struck first, connecting on a two-out solo home run to center field in the top of the first to take the early 1-0 lead.
In what quickly became a pitcher's duel, both sides struggled to find the clutch hits to drive in runs. The Saints first threat came in the third inning, when
Nicki DeHan singled, and later reached third, but was unable to score.
Saint Martin's finally broke through in the bottom of the fourth, starting with
Lauren Diuco's single to shortstop. Diuco eventually stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. With one out, Connolly drove in the tying run on a 1-2 sac fly to right field.
Kim Nelson continued to shut down the Coyotes' bats, ending the fifth with a double-play line out and polishing off CSUSB 1-2-3 in the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth,
Lindsay Miller led-off the inning with a walk. Diuco's sac bunt advance L. Miller to second on the next at-bat. After drawing a full count,
Tessani Dixon's hit back to pitcher, but a throwing error allowed Dixon to reach second safetly and L. Miller to come all the way around and score to go-ahead run.
In the top of the seventh, CSU San Bernardino led-off the inning with a double to put the tying run in scoring position. After a groundout, the Coyotes put runners on the corners on a single up the middle. Nelson forced a pop out to shortstop to pull SMU within one out of the victory. However, the runner on first stole second, forcing a throw, which allowed the runner on third to score, and the runner on second to move up to third and tie the game. Nelson worked out of the jam with a line out to center, but the game was tied at 2-2.
The Saints had an opportunity to walk-off in the seventh, after
Sabrina Hicks started with a single and advanced to second on a sac bunt by DeHan. However, CSUSB forced a strikeout and a groundout to send the game into extra innings.
The Coyotes' bats came alive in the top of the eighth, collecting four hits, none bigger than the two-out three-run home run, highlighting the seven-run inning. The Coyotes sealed the 9-2 victory in the bottom of the eighth.
"We played another really good team into extra innings," said head coach
Jim Peterson. "We need to do a better job of closing out games and offensively we need to be more aggressive at the plate."
Five different Saints picked up one hit each, with Connolly driving in the only RBI on a sac fly in the fourth. L. Miller and Diuco each recorded one run at the top of the order.
Kim Nelson got the start, going a strong seven innings, allowing only two runs, both earned, on four hits while walking none and striking out three.
Lauren Maley (0-2) picked up the loss, after going two-thirds of an inning, allowing four runs, all unearned in five batters faced.
Jessica O'Toole picked up the final out after giving up three runs, and three hits.
The Saints return to the field for the final day of the Desert Stinger with two games on Saturday. Starting with UC San Diego at 11:30 a.m. before finishing with Hawaii Hilo at 2:00 p.m. Live stats are available on smusaints.com.
