Despite some tense moments late, Cougar baseball held on for a big road win on Tuesday, defeating San Diego Christian 6-5.

 

CSUSM improves to 10-7 on the season. San Diego Christian falls to 2-6.

 

Matt Kretchmer picked up the win on the mound, giving the team five strong innings of two-run ball. He struck out five and walked two.

 

His offense provided some nice early support, with the Cougars jumping out to an early 4-0 lead. After Trent Jemmett led off the second with a walk, Jeremy Baum crushed a two-run home run for the game's first runs. The following inning, a Marco Arellano two-run base hit extended the lead.

 

After San Diego Christian cut the lead in half, CSUSM made it 5-2 on a Johnny Omahen RBI single in the fifth. With the score 5-3 in the seventh, a Mike Mecucci pinch hit RBI single provided what turned out to be a crucial insurance run. San Diego Christian plated a pair in the bottom of the inning, but reliever Brett Miller escaped the inning with the 6-5 lead intact.

 

Miller went on to toss a scoreless eighth, and Kyle Smart picked up the save with a perfect ninth.

 

The Cougars will be in action this Saturday at Cal State San Bernardino.