Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Tyler Bernard drove in Marcus Meraz with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh as the Cal State San Marcos baseball team came back to defeat La Sierra, 4-3, in the second game of an Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at CSUSM Baseball Field. La Sierra dealt CSUSM its first loss of the season, 3-1, in the opening game.

Leading 2-0 heading into the top of the seventh inning of game two, a pair of Cougar errors were capitalized upon when Michael Hinojos knocked a two-run, two-out double to right center to put the LSU (1-12, 1-2 A.I.I.) in the lead, 3-2.

However, CSUSM (10-1, 2-1 A.I.I.) answered back in its last at-bat, as Jon Putnam singled with one out before being replaced by Dylan Costello on the base path. Costello moved to second base on Logan Duran's (0-2) balk.

Meraz, hitless in the game to that point, came through in the clutch. He singled to center to drive in Costello to tie the game up before moving to second base on a fielding error by the center fielder.

Behind 1-2 in the count, Bernard sent a groundball to the right side. The ball took an unlucky hop over the second baseman's head on the infield grass before heading into right center, allowing Meraz to score and end the ballgame.

The walk-off win marked the third time this season CSUSM has prevailed in its last at-bat.

Kevin Hilton (2-0) worked all seven innings for the Cougars, scattering five hits while striking out five. All three of the runs credited to him were unearned in the top of the seventh.

Mike Scaramella took the ball in the first game for the Cougars and worked five solid innings of one-hit ball.

Bernard doubled down the line in the third inning, moved over to third on Mike Guadagnini's grounder to the right side, and scored off an RBI groundout by Kyle Secciani to make it 1-0.

The Cougars took their one-run lead into the eighth inning, but it would be infield miscues that would help deal them their first loss of the season.

Benjamin Vasquez came aboard with one out on an error by CSUSM first baseman Brandon Bentson. The next LSU batter, Michael Hinojos, reached safely after Bernard mishandled a potential double-play ball at short.

Pinch-hitter Marquis Kidd made the Cougars pay, cracking a two-run double down the left-field line to bring home both the runners.

The Golden Eagles made it 3-1 on Jordan Bray's squeeze-bunt which caught reliever Hunter Brown off-guard.

Matt Bataska (0-1) was credited with the loss, despite all three runs in the eighth inning being unearned.

The Cougars have a week off before hosting Ashford (Iowa) in a doubleheader on Monday, March 4 at CSUSM Baseball Field. First pitch is at noon.