SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The 2024 baseball season officially got underway on Friday as the Cougars traveled to California for a three-game set with Cal State San Bernardino. CCU gave the preseason #4 team in the country all they could handle as they battled to the end in a 9-4 loss. 

The Coyotes struck first their initial time up for a run, but Colorado Christian responded well. Jonny Tewinkle got his season going with a solo homer in the second, and the scoring continued as Sawyer Shepherd notched an RBI single in the fourth. 

The scoring in the fourth continued with an RBI groundout from Tewinkle as the Cougars claimed a 3-1 lead. CSUSB fought back, bringing a run back in the fifth to tighten the lead to just one for CCU. 

A series of unfortunate events ensued in the seventh as the Coyotes tallied a trio of runs to pull ahead, and three more scored in the eighth to put the game out of reach. A Shepherd sacrifice fly in the eighth was not enough as the hosts held on for a 9-4 victory. 

Jake Gimbel got the start on the mound, going four strong innings with just two hits and a single run allowed. Shepherd and Tewinkle powered the offense with a pair of RBI apiece, while Boedy Flores went 2-3 at the plate with a run scored. 

Scheduled to play one game tomorrow and one Sunday, the Cougars will now play a doubleheader at Fiscalini Field January 3 with the games slated for 12 and 3:30 p.m. MST.