Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Facing the team currently ranked #15 in NCAA Division III, Cal State San Marcos baseball earned a hard-fought split with Chapman University on Saturday.  Chapman won game one 11-7, but the Cougars took game two 10-8.

CSUSM is now 21-12 on the season.

In game one, Chapman's eight-run third inning proved too much to overcome despite the Cougars' best efforts.  The wounds were largely self-inflicted, as has been the case when CSUSM has struggled this season.  All 8 runs were unearned.

The Cougars clawed their way back into the game, cutting the lead to 10-7 at one point.  Pitcher McClinton Heil made the comeback possible, throwing five innings of two-hit ball, allowing just one unearned run and striking out two.  But Chapman's bullpen would close the game out, sending CSUSM to an 11-7 loss.

Austin Coleman was 3-for-5 with 2 RBI, James Scott was 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored, and Mike Pena and Johnny Omahen each had a pair of RBI.

The Cougars would get their revenge in game two.

On the mound, Travis McCracken turned in an outstanding effort.  He threw six innings, allowing just two runs on eight hits, striking out two and walking no one.  The Cougar defense also bounced back, not committing an error during the contest.

And San Marcos' offense provided plenty of support.  Down 1-0 in the fourth inning, Coleman got things started with a one-out double, and Scott Clement put the Cougars on top with a home run to left.

CSUSM would extend the lead in the fifth.  Ricardo Moran and James Scott knocked one-out singles, and Moran scored on an error.  Scott would then come in to score on a sac fly by Coleman, making it 4-1.

The Cougar hitters continued to pound away in the sixth.  Dane Ponciano and Louie Russo led off with base hits, and Pena drove an RBI double down the left field line.  Russo would score on a passed ball, and Pena came home on a two-out single by Scott.

It was more of the same in the seventh, with Josh Miller knocking home a run with an RBI single, and Russo driving home a pair with a base hit of his own.

Up 10-2 heading into the eighth following a scoreless inning pitched by Spencer Pardon, CSUSM appeared to have the game well in hand.  But Chapman fought back, scoring six in the frame and threatening for more before reliever Eric Julienne came put out the fire.

With the score 10-8, Julienne would get the job done in the ninth.  After a leadoff walk, he struck out the next batter, and induced a game-ending double play to close out the huge win.

Cougar baseball will be in action on Tuesday when they host Azusa Pacific.