“It was only after Victor had flipped the switch that brought the creature to life with a shower of sparks and lightning did he see the true face of his mistake,” reads the beginning of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

When the switch was flipped on the Nettleton Stadium lights for the first Friday night baseball game of the season a different kind of monster awoke – one that had been dormant for 15 games – the Wildcats’ power stroke. Jackson Evans and Ben Manlove mashed three-run homers, Justin Manci tripled, and Manlove added an RBI-double as the Wildcats beat Cal State San Bernardino and ace Aaron Brooks 10-7.

The seventh-ranked Wildcats, who improved to 21-5 overall and 15-4 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), had hit just seven home runs all season and none since March 4. But Evans got around on an inside pitch and drilled a high-arcing blast over the wall in right-center field to end the drought and cap a five-run second inning that put the Wildcats ahead 5-1.

The lead had dwindled to 5-4 in the seventh before the Wildcats broke it open with Shane Kroker’s bases-loaded two-run single and Manlove’s missile over the left field wall to make it 10-4.

Cal State San Bernardino rallied for three runs in the ninth before closer Juan Guerra came on to get the final out for his eighth save of the season.

Jordan Lind Baum (3-0) landed his second win in four days with four-and-a-third strong innings in relief. The lanky right hander gave up just one run on four hits while striking out four following Tuesday’s effort in which he allowed just one run in six innings.

Sheldon Lechuga also pitched in a scoreless inning in relief. Those two efforts were important after starter Brian Buckham failed to get out of the third inning thanks to command issues. He allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in two-and-a-third.

The Coyotes jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first on David Silvas’ two-out double followed by Chris LeFay’s base hit to left field.

The Wildcats struck back in the second, buoyed by Kroker’s leadoff hit. He moved to second on Manci’s sacrifice bunt and scored when Manlove doubled just inside the left field line. With two down, following Michael Schultz’s walk, Cody Foster singled in a run to push the Wildcats in front and stretch his hitting streak to 14 games. When Evans unloaded on his first home run of the season the Wildcats were suddenly up 5-1.

Buckham allowed two walks and two hits before getting the second out of the third, however, and the Coyotes’ deficit was just 5-3 with the go-ahead run at the plate when Lindebaum was summoned from the bullpen. He coaxed a grounder to short to get out of the inning and he was rolling.

San Bernardino did get to him for a run in the sixth, but the Wildcats answered with five runs in the seventh. Foster started things with a bunt single and Adrian Bringas drew a walk to set the table. Pinch hitter Ian McKay singled to load the bases for Kroker, whose line drive to left center plated two, making him 3-for-3 with the bases loaded this season. If that wasn’t the dagger, Manlove’s three-run blast with two down seemed to be.

The Coyotes showed some life in the ninth on Matt Winn’s three-run blast that trimmed the lead to 10-7. But once the Coyotes got two more runners on base and the tying run came to the plate, Guerra was given the ball to close it out. He did just that, striking out pinch hitter Matt Haney swinging to end the game.

The Wildcats have now won 15 straight home games, including their first eight at Nettleton Stadium in 2011.

Yasuhara, who stretched his hitting streak to 12 games, Foster, Kroker and Manlove finished with two hits apiece.

The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon and concludes with a single game Sunday at 11.

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