Box Score Box Score
A collapse in the top of the ninth inning doomed Cougar baseball on Wednesday, as Sioux Falls shocked the home team with a 5-run frame to hand CSUSM as very disappointing 7-6 loss.
San Marcos falls to 15-11 on the year. Sioux Falls improves to 8-6.
The late drama spoiled what was a terrific start on the mound for Johnny Omahen. The everyday shortstop, sometimes-pitcher was in fine form, throwing seven strong innings and leaving with a 4-2 lead. Omahen struck out 6 and walked just a single batter.
CSUSM jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and appeared to be cruising for most of the game. In the top of the first, Trent Jemmett and Austin Coleman tallied two-out singled, and Jeremy Baum ripped a double to plate both.
The 2-0 score would persist all the way to the sixth, when Sioux Falls cut it in half and threatened for much more, but a nifty play on the mound by Omahen followed by a tailor-made 6-4-3 double-play ended the frame with CSUSM still on top.
In the bottom of the inning, a Coleman double and Jordan Polchow RBI single extended the lead to 4-1. USF would score again in the bottom of the inning, but Omahen finished it out with the home team up 4-2.
Things would take a turn in the ninth, however. Pitcher Kyle Smart, who had worked an easy 8th, got the first batter down 0-2 but allowed a hit, and after another single was lifted for Matt Bataska. USF sacrificed the runners over, but Bataska's ill-fated attempt to get the lead runner resulted in both runners scoring to tie the game, and the batter moving all the way to third. After a groundout, pitcher Andrew Larson was ordered to intentionally walk the first batter he faced; and with runners at the corners, USF baited catcher Marco Arellano into trying to throw the runner out at second, allowing the go-ahead run to score. USF's Cody Burgener promptly followed with a home run to make it 7-4. Eventually, reliever Brett Miller was brought it and escaped further damage.
CSUSM did rally in the ninth, with Mitch Ferguson leading off with a double and Kyle Secciani laying down a bunt single. But a line drive by Omahen was snared by a diving outfielder, and though it would serve as a sac fly and a Coleman RBI would cut it to 7-6, the rally fell just short.
USF starter Derek Fischer was solid on the mound, allowing two earned runs in 8 innings to pick up the roller coaster win. Noah Coleman pitched the ninth to earn the save.
CSUSM will play back-to-back double-headers on Friday and Saturday at home against Arizona Christian.
