Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 |
Box Score 3 Game One
Game Two
Game Three
A seven-run comeback by the Cougars capped off the first-ever triple-header played at CSUSM Baseball Field, as Cal State San Marcos took two of three games from Arizona Christian University.
ACU won game one 6-1, but the Cougars bounced back to win game two 11-2 and persevered to take game three 15-9. All three games were seven innings. CSUSM is now 17-12 on the season; ACU drops to 14-22.
The morning game was dominated by ACU pitcher Jordan Bryson, who was excellent in throwing the full seven innings, allowing just one run in five hits. The Cougar lineup generated little, with the team's only run coming on a solo homer by second baseman Trent Jemmett.
On the mound, Johnny Holtman was the tough-luck loser for the Cougars. The big righty allowed 2 earned runs in 5 innings, striking out 2. CSUSM loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Bryson struck out the game's final batter to secure the 6-1 ACU win.
CSUSM struck back in game two, scoring 4 in the first and 2 in the second to take command early. Leadoff man Kyle Secciani was 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored, Jeremy Baum was 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored and 2 RBI, and Kevin Silvett was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI.
Starting pitcher Adam Bileckyj was outstanding, striking out 8 batters in 5 scoreless innings of work, allowing just 3 hits and 2 walks. He picked up the win, with reliever Geoff Landry throwing 1 1/3 scoreless to close out the game.
That set the stage for the rubber match, and things were all ACU early. After the teams traded 2-run first innings (highlighted by an Austin Coleman home run), a devastating 7-run seventh drove starter Brett Miller and relievers Kyle Smart and Matt Bataska from the game, and put the visitors up by a seemingly-comfortable 9-2 margin.
But despite it already being a long day, the Cougar dugout kept its spirit, and the team kept pushing. CSUSM closed the gap a bit with a 3-run third, as Silvett, Coleman, and Baum recorded RBI's to cut the lead to 9-5.
Then came the fourth inning. Mike Mecucci and Marco Arellano led off with singles, and a deep fly out by Anthony Renteria would advance them. Secciani then drove in both run with a booming double to left-center, and Johnny Omahen followed that up by slicing a triple to left to cut it to 9-8. Omahen would score the tying run on a wild pitch.
The Cougars were far from done though. Silvett drew a walk, Coleman laced a single, and Jemmett drew a walk. After the run at home was cut down on a fielder's choice, Mecucci drew a two-out bases loaded walk to put CSUSM up 10-9. Arellano then delivered his second big hit on the inning, a base hit to left that scored two more. Renteria then walked to re-load the bases, and Secciani fittingly closed out the inning with another walk to extend CSUSM's lead to 12-9.
CSUSM wasn't out of the woods though, as the team's beleaguered pitching still had to hold. Landry, who did an admirable job finally shutting down ACU's rally in the second, bowed out one out into the fifth, leaving the job to Matt Rossio.
The crafty righty was up to the task, closing out the game's final 2 2/3 innings with clean, scoreless ball. Rossio struck out 3 batters, allowing just one hit and a pair of walks.
Though Rossio didn't need it, CSUSM would add three more insurance runs in the sixth, and go on to win 15-9.
The Cougars will be back at CSUSM Baseball Field on Monday to take on GSAC foe Concordia.
