Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Awaiting the A.I.I. Conference Tournament next week in which they are the #1 seed, the Cal State San Marcos Baseball team got a test from conference opponent Arizona Christian Friday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader at the CSUSM Baseball Field 1-5 and 9-3. The Cougars (26-19) have now won 5 of 6 against the visiting Firestorm (28-19), who are the #5 seed in the upcoming tournament.

Game 1 (Arizona Christian 5 – CSUSM 1 )

Box Score

Cal State San Marcos struggled to hit off of Arizona Christian starting pitcher Alika Pruett, who went  7 innings and allowed just 5 hits. CSUSM scored their lone run off an Austin Coleman homerun to left field in the second inning, and Trent Jemmett went 2-for-4 with a double.

On the mound, the Cougars struck out 9 Firestorm batters, but gave up 6 extra base hits and gave up 5 runs. James Dykstra (7-2) earned the loss, and went 4 innings, allowing 2 earned runs while striking out 4.
 
Game 2 (CSUSM 9 – Arizona Christian 3)

Box Score

The offense came back to life in the second game, boosted by a 5-run fifth inning that turned a 3-2 deficit into a comfortable 7-3 lead. Anthony Renteria came within a home run short of the cycle, going 3-for-3 with a hit by pitch.

CSUSM was hit by four pitches in the game, including one that hit the head of a Cougar batter. Arizona Christian Head Coach Doyle Wilson was ejected in the second inning for arguing after a warning was issued to Firestorm pitcher Chris Freudenberg.

The Cougars stormed back with class and put the game away in the fifth after Austin Coleman's two run homer- his team leading 13^th of the season- ignited a five run outburst. Trent Jemmett had a couple of fine defensive plays at shortstop, and added a double and a homerun for the Cougars.

Starting pitcher Richard Martin improved to 2-1 on the season, going 5 innings and allowing just 2 hits. He struck out 5 Firestorm batters, and gave up just 2 earned runs.

The Cougars will face the Firestorm again Saturday for another doubleheader at 11:00 in what are the final regular season games for both teams.