PATERSON FIELD | MONTGOMERY, Ala. - No. 4 seed Coastal Alabama - North Baseball opened postseason play with a 6-4 loss to No. 6 seed Bishop State (Ala.) on Wednesday, Apr. 29 at Paterson Field in the ACCC Division II Baseball Championship Tournament.

The Coyotes (32-22) battled back to even the score midway through the contest, but Bishop State used a go-ahead solo home run in the sixth inning and added an insurance run in the eighth to secure the opening-round victory.

Coastal - North struck early, as Reni Mason launched a two-run home run in the first inning to give the Coyotes an early advantage. Bishop State responded with a steady offensive attack, scoring four runs across the second and third frames, while collecting 11 total hits in the game to keep pressure on the Coastal pitching staff.

Trailing 4-2, the Coyotes answered in the fifth inning to tie the game at 4-4. Jesse Lord delivered a key two-run double, while Peyton Martin continued his strong day at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored.

The Wildcats of Bishop State reclaimed the lead in the sixth inning with a solo home run and later added an unearned run in the eighth to extend the margin to 6-4.

Coastal - North totaled seven hits in the contest, highlighted by multi-hit performances from Martin and Lord. Xavier Brown added a hit and a run scored, while Cooper Cantrell reached base twice via walks and crossed the plate once.

On the mound, starter Kieran Kostanoski went five innings, allowing nine hits and five runs (two earned) while striking out three. Harrison Hicks followed with two innings of relief, surrendering one unearned run, and Andrew Benson closed out the game with two scoreless frames, allowing no hits. Coastal's defense committed three costly errors in the loss, eventually allowing four unearned runs to cross home plate.

The Coyotes will now look to keep their season alive in an elimination game of the ACCC D-II Baseball Tournament on Thursday, Apr. 30 at 7:00 p.m. CT in Montgomery. Their opponent is currently to be determined.