Chandler-Gilbert Evens Series at 1-1 with 11-7 Win; Rubber Match Sat. at Noon

Mesa, AZ - The Chandler-Gilbert Coyotes evened the Region I-DII Semi-Final series with the #10 Mesa Thunderbirds with an 11-7 victory Friday afternoon.

The Coyotes took full advantage of four Mesa errors.  Mesa held to a 4-2 lead in the top of the fifth inning but it was two straight throwing errors by the T-Birds that allowed the Coyotes to take a 6-4 lead.

Chandler-Gilbert would score one more run in the sixth to make it 7-4 but with the help of a Coyote error, Mesa was able to score two runs in the bottom half of the sixth to cut the lead to 7-6.  Esteban Martinez reached on a throwing error and he was knocked in by catcher Marcus Skundrich.  Kelby Richardson then knocked in pinch-runner Jace DeGrange.  Josh Brown would then single to left field but Mesa would strand both Richardson and Brown on the base paths.

Kody Funderburk would score in the bottom of the seventh inning but the Coyotes would add four more runs to finish out the game and force a decisive game three tomorrow at the Mesa Baseball Complex at noon.