SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - Facing elimination in the opening round of the CCAA Baseball Tournament, No. 5 seed Cal State San Bernardino erupted offensively Wednesday afternoon, defeating No. 4 seed Cal State LA 12-4 at Fiscalini Field to advance in the postseason bracket.

With the victory, the Coyotes move on to face top-seeded Cal State Monterey Bay, while the Golden Eagles’ run in the CCAA Tournament comes to an end.

CSUSB pounded out 12 runs on 12 hits and used a six-run sixth inning to break the game open after Cal State LA had battled back within one run.

After a scoreless opening inning, the Coyotes struck first in the second. Juni Rodriguez reached on an error before consecutive walks loaded the bases. Jeremy Giesegh brought home the game’s first run with a sacrifice fly, and Benji Solano followed with an RBI single to make it 2-0.

The Coyotes extended the lead in the third inning when Keedan Nadeau blasted a two-run homer to left-center, scoring Garret Barto for a 4-0 advantage.

Cal State LA answered in the fourth. Omar Gonzalez doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a fielder’s choice before Carson Panarisi crushed a two-run home run to center field, trimming the deficit to 4-3.

The Golden Eagles pulled within 5-4 in the fifth after Ben Lee connected on a solo homer to left field, but Barto immediately answered in the bottom half with a solo shot to center to keep momentum on the Coyotes’ side.

CSUSB then delivered the decisive blow in the sixth inning.

Nadeau opened the frame with a double, and Giesegh drove him home with an RBI single that was aided by a left-field error. Eddie Alfaro later added an RBI single before Barto capped the inning with a towering grand slam to left field, pushing the Coyotes’ lead to 11-4.

Alfaro added another insurance run in the eighth with a solo homer to left.

Barto powered the Coyotes offensively, finishing 4-for-5 with two home runs, five RBIs and three runs scored. Nadeau went 3-for-3 with a homer, two doubles, two RBIs and three runs scored, while Alfaro added two hits and two RBIs. Giesegh also drove in two runs.

On the mound, Devyn Hernandez delivered a strong outing for CSUSB, striking out 11 batters across 8.2 innings to earn the win.

For Cal State LA, Panarisi collected three hits and two RBIs, while Lee added two hits including a home run. Jonathan Manuel was charged with the loss after allowing nine runs, seven earned, in 5.2 innings.

The Coyotes will face No. 1 seed Cal State Monterey Bay at 6 p.m. in the next round of the CCAA Tournament.