Cougar baseball completed a four-game sweep of Illinois Tech on Thursday, winning a tense game one 5-4 and getting a dominating 12-0 victory in game two.

CSUSM improves to an impressive 13-6-1 this season.  Illinois Tech drops to 0-5.

In the more competitive game, CSUSM took what seemed to be a safe 5-0 lead in the third inning thanks to a big two-out rally.  With nobody on, Kyle Secciani drew a walk, Matt Jenkins ripped a single off the first baseman's glove down the right field line, and red-hot Kevin Silvett drove in the first run with a base hit.  Josh Miller was then hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Ryle Parks, who delivered a huge two-RBI double.  Johnny Omahen then hit a ball to second which was booted and subsequently thrown away, allowing Parks and Miller to score to make it 5-0.

With Travis McCracken on the mound, the game felt like it was over - but Illinois Tech responded well.  McCracken ran into trouble in the fourth - due in part to his own error and a seeing-eye swinging bunt single - surrendering four runs and leaving with the bases loaded and one out. 

Hard-throwing reliever Kyle Smart was called on to put out the fire, and he did so brilliantly, striking out two batters to close out the frame.

With CSUSM up 5-4, each team threatened to score, but neither could push any more runs across.  Ricky Chavarria did an excellent job on the mound for the Cougars, working the final three innings and allowing just one hit.  He picked up the well-earned save, with Smart getting the win.

Game two would feature no such drama, as CSUSM took a commanding 6-0 lead in the bottom of the first before recording a single out.  Secciani drew a leadoff walk, and Ricardo Moran and Silvett recorded back-to-back doubles to make it 2-0.  After a walk to Miller and single by Parks to load the bases, Steve Harris unloaded on a no-doubt-about-it grand slam to right center.

The hit parade would continue in the second, as Silvett blasted a two-run homer, and Miller followed with a solo shot of his own to make it 9-0.

Meanwhile, Brett Miller was in complete control on the mound for CSUSM.  He worked four easy innings, striking out six while allowing just two hits and a walk.  The win improves him to 2-0 this season.

Secciani singled in a run in the fourth to make it 10-0; and in the fifth, doubles by Jordan Polchow and Mike Pena, along with an Omar Manzanarez sacrifice fly made it 12-0.

The shutout was preserved by McClinton Heil, who worked 1 2/3 hitless innings, and rocket-armed shortstop Johnny Omahen, who in his first ever appearance on the mound threw a scoreless seventh.

Cougar baseball will face off against Concordia University on Monday at 6:00 PM at Poway HS.