SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Senior Denny Vigo drove in the game-winning run to give the Cal State San Marcos baseball team a doubleheader split against NCAA Division II Point Loma on Friday afternoon.  The Cougars dropped game one 17-9 before collecting a 1-0 seven-inning shutout in the nightcap.
 
Junior Jon Putnam registered three hits and four RBIs on the day, including his first collegiate home run.  Senior Ray Patchen also snagged three hits while scoring three times.
 
Junior right-handed pitcher Emilio Esquibel allowed just five hits while striking out two to earn his fourth win of 2015. 
 
The series move to Point Loma on Saturday, Feb. 28 with a doubleheader slated for 11 a.m.
 
Game 1
Point Loma wasted no time getting on the board by scoring a run on a fielder's choice in the opening frame.  The Sea Lions added another run in the third inning when Ryan Garcia hit a two-out RBI double but was out when he tried to extend it to a triple.
 
Junior Stefan Miladinovich's RBI single to center made it 2-1 PLNU in the third.  The Cougars took their first and only lead of the game in the fourth on freshman Austin Ott's 2 RBI single to left center.  Junior L.A. Gamo followed with a RBI single up the middle to put CSUSM up 4-2. 
 
Point Loma put the game out of reach by posting back-to-back five-run innings while CSUSM was only able to score a run in the bottom of the frames.
 
The lone highlight came on Putnam's two-run homer that sailed over the left center wall in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Sophomore Addison Domingo took the loss after four innings on the hill, giving up five runs – four earned – while striking out three batters.
 
Game 2
Senior Kyle Montiel started game two in a planned one-inning outing.  Esquibel gave up five hits in five innings and senior Justin Hertzmann came in to close and earned his fifth save of the season.
 
The Sea Lions threatened in the fifth when Tyler Baker laid down a bunt single to leadoff.  He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and a Tanner Handa single.  A 643 ground out double play got the Cougars out of the jam.
 
Back-to-back singles by junior Brandon Bentson and Patchen put CSUSM in scoring position.  Vigo sent a 1-1 pitch through the left side and Bentson rounded third to score the game winner.