CSN remains alive in quest to reach junior college World Series

College of Southern Nevada reached the championship game of the Western District baseball tournament, but the Coyotes won’t have an easy path to the World Series.

They must beat Yavapai College of Prescott, Ariz., twice today, the same team that handed the Coyotes a stunning loss on Friday afternoon.

The teams meet at noon today at Morse Stadium. Should CSN (46-17) win, a second game will be played 30 minutes afterward.

Yavapai (44-16) needs to win once to advance out of the double-elimination tournament to the National Junior College Athletic Association World Series from May 23 to 30 in Grand Junction, Colo.

CSN staved off elimination Friday night with an 8-1 victory over Trinidad (Colo.) State Junior College. Trinidad finished 35-22.

Right-hander Nate Bennett (6-1) went seven innings for the Coyotes, giving up seven hits and one run and striking out 10. Kayden Porter hit a three-run homer in the first inning, and Jose Verdugo went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Ali Deolarte was 3-for-4 with a solo homer.

CSN was forced into the losers’ bracket after giving up four runs in the ninth and falling 5-2 to Yavapai earlier in the day.

The defeat marred a sterling performance from ace right-hander Phil Bickford, who took a no-hitter one out into the eighth inning. Alexis Cruz broke up the no-hitter with a double to right-center field on a 1-and-0 pitch.

Bickford allowed one run on two hits in 7 2/3 innings and struck out 15.

Right-hander Alec Hutt (4-3) replaced Bickford in the eighth and gave up the four-spot in the ninth.

In the first game, Trinidad eliminated Salt Lake Community College 7-3. Salt Lake finished 37-24.