Box Score SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team used a four-run seventh inning to move to 5-0 on the season with a 9-5 win over Chapman on Tuesday afternoon at CSUSM Baseball Field.

After Chapman (1-4) rallied back from a 4-1 deficit to make it 5-5 in the seventh, Kenny Belzer laced a one out single through the left side to drive in Mike Guadagnini and Tyler Bernard. Brandon Bentson followed with a single up the middle to drive in Kyle Secciani before Belzer came across on a fielder's choice off the bat of Kyle Kuck to put the Cougars up by four.

Belzer finished the afternoon 2-for-3 with four RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Bentson went 4-for-4 with two RBI.

Bentson got the Cougars on the board in the bottom half of the first with a two-out RBI single to right field. The Panthers evened the score in the top of the third, but Belzer answered with a two-run single and Kuck added a sacrifice fly in the Cougars' at-bat to make it 4-1.

CSUSM starter Steve Messner worked a serviceable five innings for the Cougars, scattering seven hits and allowing a pair of runs. He left with a 4-2 lead, but the Panthers tagged reliever Tony Guerra for a double down the line and an infield single to put runners on first and third.

Guerra gave way to Mike Scarmella, who allowed the runner to score from third on a balk before a pickoff attempt. The Panthers then evened it at 4-4 on Adam Velez RBI single. Both runs were credited to Guerra.

Bentson led off the Cougar half of the sixth with a single before being moved over to second on Kuck's sacrifice bunt. Marcus Meraz picked up Bentson from second with an RBI single to center to put CSUSM back in the lead.

The Panthers took advantage of a pair of Cougar miscues to even the game at 5-5. Connor Battaglia was able to reach first with one out after Frank Charlton's third strike was mishandled by CSUSM catcher Kody Sepulveda. Battaglia advanced on a wild pitch before Belzer's error at third base on a routine ground ball allowed Taber Watson to reach safely. Matt Gandy made the Cougars pay with a single through the right side to score Battaglia.

However, for every jab the Panthers took, the Cougars were able to punch back.

Sepulveda came aboard via an error by the Chapman shortstop and the Cougars put two runners on when Watson (0-1) threw wide of second base on Bernard's sacrifice bunt attempt. Guadagnini walked to load the bases, but the Panthers were able to throw out Sepulveda at home on a force play.

It looked as though the Panthers would escape the jam after Watson (0-1) worked an 0-2 count on Belzer. However, the senior third baseman put just enough juice behind his ground ball to get past the hot corner.

Charlton (2-0) was the pitcher of record when the Cougars took the lead for good and was credited with the victory.

Hunter Brown worked the eighth and ninth innings to close out the game for CSUSM.

CSUSM is back at home on Friday to face Bethesda in a doubleheader starting at 11:00 a.m.