Baseball bounces back, win twice in Border Battle

By Dan Cabrera, Sports Information

Monday, Jan. 28, 2008

The College of Southern Nevada baseball team rebounded on Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader in the 2008 Coyote Border Battle with 7-2 and 2-1 wins over GateWay Community College (Ariz.) and Cochise College (Ariz.), respectively.

The wins followed an embarrassing defeat to Cochise on Friday, where CSN surrendered a 4-1 lead by allowing four runs in the top of the 9th inning in a 5-4 loss.

In that game, the Coyotes were unable to take advantage of an outstanding performance by right-hander Colby Shreve. Shreve had a no-decision, giving up one unearned run on one hit while walking one and striking out eight in six innings of work.

CSN turned the first triple play in school history in the 7th inning of the game, but even that wasn't enough to preserve the lead.

Against GateWay, the Coyotes scored three runs in the 3rd inning and never looked back. Braeden Schlehuber went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored to lead the offensive attack. Easton Gust went 2-for-3 with an RBI triple to center that scored Brandon Trodick in the fifth inning. Gust injured his right shoulder on a collision at home plate after trying to stretch that triple into an inside-the-park home run after the ball got past Geckos center fielder Pete Alonge and rolled to the wall.

In the Saturday nightcap against Cochise, Joel Reese smacked a two-run single into left field with the bases loaded in the fourth inning to break a scoreless tie, and CSN held on for the victory.

Reese's heroics came well after CSN right-hander Drew Leary left the game in the second inning after taking a line drive comebacker to the groin area. After being examined at a nearby hospital, doctors said Leary will be fine and that he is extremely lucky, considering it could have been much worse.

Kyle Bostick combined to go 6-for-11 with two doubles in all three games played over the weekend.

Sunday's games were rained out and will not be made up.

The Coyotes (2-1) are preparing to host the defending national champions in the 9th Annual CSN Coyote Classic, which begins Thursday. CSN will face 2007 JUCO champion Chipola College this Friday, Feb. 1, at 3:00 p.m. at Morse Stadium.

Don't miss out on this huge game!