SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. –NCAA Division II CSU San Bernardino scored 4 runs in the first 4 innings, then held off a ninth inning Azusa Pacific rally to beat the Cougars, 4-3, at Arrowhead Credit Union Park in a non-conference game.

The Cougars, who got the tying run on third and go-ahead run on second in the ninth, drop to 2-2 on the season, while the Coyotes improve to 3-0.

Trailing 4-2 in the top of the ninth, Matt Dzama singled, Derek Wohlers walked and Traviss Hodge followed with his third hit of the day, a single, that scored Dzama. Coyote closer Chris White then fanned Robert Guiles, and Cameron Radonich grounded out to first to move the runners to second and third with two outs. White then induced Jarod Huber to fly out to center to end the game.

Guiles hit his first home run of the season, a 2-run shot, to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead in the second inning, but the Coyotes answered with a run in the bottom of the second and 2 more in the fourth off Cougar starter Mike Medlock, who had a second consecutive impressive outing despite suffering the loss. He tossed 6 innings, allowing just 2 earned runs.

The two Coyotes runs in the fourth were unearned after catcher Brian Schweiger reached on an uncharacteristic error by Cougar shortstop Robbie Lindsey. The Coyotes used back-to-back singles to drive in Schweiger, and Mark Ayala Jr. followed with a double that drove in what would become the game-winning run.

Again the Cougars struggled at the plate, generating just 6 hits. Hodge finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Guiles, Dzama and Jake Haaker accounted for the other 3.