Sunday was a banner day for Cougar baseball's offense, as the team racked up 45 runs in a home double-header against La Sierra.  CSUSM won game one 19-4, then game two 26-3.

The Cougars' first batter of the day, James Scott, set the tone.  Scott stepped to the plate and cranked the first pitch about 400 feet foul down the right field line.  Two pitches later, he hit another ball just as hard to right - this time fair. 

With the tone for the day set, the Cougar offense followed suit.  Game one was highlighted by the Cougars' 19 runs on 18 hits - Scott, Austin Coleman, Johnny Omahen, and Scott Clement all had three hits and multiple RBI.  Nine different Cougars recorded a base hit, and the team scored runs in six of its eight trips to the plate.

But the offense wasn't all that worked for the Cougars in game one.  Making his first career collegiate start, McClinton Heil turned in an outstanding performance on the mound.  In games where a pitcher's team piles on the runs early, it's easy for that pitcher to lose focus (or get cold sitting in the dugout between innings) and allow the opposition back into it - but Heil stayed sharp, ensuring the game would remain a one-way home run derby.  He pitched five full innings, allowing just four hits and one walk en route to picking up the win.

The Cougar bullpen was able to close out the game with minimal damage, paving the way for an even more impressive exhibition of offense in game two.  This time around, James Scott was the primary headliner.  Scott posted the unbelievable line of 3-for-3 with 2 home runs, 4 runs scored, and 7 RBI, keying the school-record 26 run performance. 

In total, 12 different Cougars tallied base hits, 13 scored runs, and four hit home runs.

On the mound, Steve Triolo was solid and did an admirable job of eating innings.  He went five innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out five.  Eric Julienne finished the game in relief, allowing just an unearned run.

Cougar baseball will be back in action tomorrow at San Diego Christian.