SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Senior Ray Patchen hit a bases clearing double in the seventh inning to lead the Cal State San Marcos baseball team to a 8-2 victory in the rubber match against University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) on Sunday afternoon.

Banging out 13 hits in the win, the CSUSM Cougars improved to 19-8 while USF, also nicknamed the Cougars, dropped to 3-11. 

Junior Manny Barragan (3-2) allowed just four hits and struck out four over seven innings to earn the victory and senior Justin Hertzmann closed it out with a two-inning save, his seventh of the season.

Patchen extended his hitting streak to nineteen games and drove in three runs. Junior Stefan Miladinovich went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Senior Dylan Costello and freshman Tyler Place registered two hits apiece.

USF struck first, benefiting from a CSUSM error in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead.

CSUSM answered in the bottom of the frame with senior Denny Vigo leading off the inning with a base hit through the right side. Vigo advanced to second on a balk and a base hit by Costello pushed him to third. An USF error two batters later allowed Vigo to score and tie the game 1-1.

A double off the bat of USF's Austin Richey added a run in the top of fourth and the visitors regained the lead at 2-1. Barragan then settled in and contained USF for the next three innings before giving way to Hertzmann.

CSUSM battled all afternoon, finally capitalizing in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back base hits by freshman Austin Ott and Place to lead off the inning chased USF starter Alex Wall (1-3). After reliever Kenton Johnson forced an out at third, Miladinovich hit the first pitch he saw into the left field corner to score Place from second and tie the score at 2-2. Senior Brandon Bentson walked to load the bases for Patchen who promptly cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double down the left field line to put CSUSM up, 5-2.

In the bottom of the eight, CSUSM padded their lead with a two-out rally to tag on three more runs. Ott reached first on a fielders' choice and Place was plunked to put runners on first and second. Junior L.A. Gamo flew out to deep right field, advancing Ott to third. Miladinovich hit a first-pitch Texas Leaguer to center to score Ott and give CSUSM a 6-2 lead.  Bentson was hit on a 3-2 count to once again load the bases for Patchen. Patchen hit a fly ball to right, but the right fielder failed to secure the ball in his glove. It fell to the ground and allowed two more runs to cross the plate for CSUSM, making it an 8-2 ballgame.

CSUSM returns to action on Sunday, March 22 as the Cougars head to La Sierra University for a doubleheader against the Golden Eagles (6-25). First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.

Notes: CSUSM scored their first run by way of an error in all three games of the series … Patchen's 19 game hitting streak is the second longest streak in CSUSM baseball history … During his hitting streak, Patchen has driven in 19 runs and improved his batting average from .243 to .347 … Costello stole second in the sixth inning and is now 7-for-7 on the season … Hertzmann has appeared in 16 games and has yet to allow an earned run … CSUSM improved their home record to 17-7.