Box Score

Facing an NCAA Division II opponent on the road, Cal State San Marcos baseball handled their business Friday night, defeating Cal State Los Angeles 8-2.

The win improves to CSUSM to 15-7-1 this season.  CSULA falls to 12-11.

The Cougars were firing on all cylinders Friday night, getting great efforts both on the mound and at the plate.  Starting pitcher Chris Skaalen turned in his second straight excellent start, tossing five innings of one-run ball to earn the win.  He allowed just four hits and, perhaps more importantly, walked just one.  Skaalen improves to 4-1 this season.

He enjoyed consistent support from his offense as well.  The Cougars struck first in the top of second inning, as a Johnny Omahen sacrifice fly brought home Josh Miller.  After the Golden Eagles tied it in the bottom of the frame, CSUSM went right back on top, as Omar Manzanarez led off the third with a double and scored on a pair of errors.

CSUSM kept the pressure on, extending the lead to 4-1 in the fifth as Kyle Secciani drove in a run and another error - one of five on the day for CSULA - allowed Ricardo Moran to score.

Skaalen gave way to Eric Julienne in the sixth, and Julienne continued the strong work on the mound.  He struck out a pair in three innings of work, allowing just one earned run.

Meanwhile, the Cougar offense would continue to build the lead.  Secciani laced a big RBI triple in the seventh, and Kevin Silvett singled him home to make it 6-2.  The following inning, Ryle Parks led off with a double, Johnny Omahen drew a walk, Mike Pena brought home Parks with a sac fly, and Manazanez singled home Omahen.

McClinton Heil came in to pitch the ninth and closed out the 8-2 win with an easy inning.

Friday night's game was the first in a stretch of very important games for Cougar baseball.  The squad will face CSULA again for a double-header tomorrow and #2-ranked UC San Diego on Monday, and after a game against NAIA foe San Diego Christian on Tuesday, the Cougars will play a three-game series against CSU San Bernardino next weekend.  As CSUSM is planning to move into NCAA Division II and the CCAA Conference - and CSULA, UCSD, and CSUSB are very competitive teams within that conference - this stretch provides a glimpse of the future level of competition for Cougar baseball.