Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 16 Cal State San Marcos baseball team could not find a victory over Opening Weekend as Vanguard came in and took down the Cougars 8-2 and 14-13 (7 innings) to complete a three-game sweep on Saturday at CSUSM Baseball Field.

Bret and John Collins accounted for three hits, five RBI and a pair of runs in the opening game victory for VU (4-0). In game two, CSUSM took a 10-6 lead into the top of the seventh, but VU rallied for six runs in their final at-bat. The Cougars responded with three runs and brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom half, but Roberto Johnson forced Kyle Hansen to pop up with a runner on third to clinch the game.

The Cougars are 0-3, but have a chance to get back to .500 this week. They play two games, the first two of which are at home. CSUSM takes on Bethesda at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 29 before hosting Simpson on Thursday, Jan. 30 at 12:00 p.m.

Game 1
The Cougars would be the first to strike in the opening game thanks to a defensive miscue by the Lions. VU shortstop Nick Rodda couldn't glove Adam Tapia's routine grounder; John Swilley and Denny Vigo came around to score to make it 2-0.

VU answered back immediately, as J. Collins' two-run triple to right center tied it before Greg Younger drove in J. Collins with a single up the middle to make it 3-2.

The Lions added a fourth on B. Collins' RBI single, the third consecutive base hit to start the inning. John Schwer doubled down the left field line to score two more and J. Collins added a sacrifice fly to make it 7-2.   

B. Collins' RBI single accounted for the final run in the seventh inning.

Game 2
Rich Montanez homered and Tyler Bernard went 3-for-4, but VU turned six CSUSM errors into 11 unearned runs as the Lions prevailed by one.

Montanez led off the bottom half of the six with a bomb over the right-field wall to make it 10-6 and it appeared as though CSUSM would comfortably coast to the team's first victory of the year.

However, a hit-batsman and a pair of errors loaded the bases for the Lions, bringing the tying run to the plate with no outs in the bottom of the seventh.

Bernard, who pitched in the sixth and seventh for CSUSM, then plunked Rodda to force in a run before Brandon Sandoval's single made it 10-8.

Ian Sakry committed the first out of the inning on a grounder to short, but David Stone came across to make it 10-9. Then, it was B. Collins who put the Lions in the lead with a two-run single up the middle, 11-10.

VU added three more after another error prolonged the inning.

Down 14-10, CSUSM loaded the bases with no out. Jon Putnam came through in the clutch with a single to center to score Bernard before Swilley made it 14-12 by scampering across on a wild pitch.

Montanez popped out to right center for the second out of the inning, edging CSUSM within 14-13 by driving in Brandon Bentson with the sac fly.

But, the VU closer was able to convert the save by forcing the popout.

The Cougars had not committed six errors in a single contest since 2009.