LA MIRADA, Calif. – Junior Emilio Esquibel's one-run complete game gem in the twinbill opener paired with a three-run homer by senior Ray Patchen in game two led the Cal State San Marcos to a doubleheader sweep over Biola at Eagles Diamond Wednesday afternoon. Final scores were 7-1 and 8-7.
 
"These were two good wins for us," said head coach Dennis Pugh. "The guys battled the whole game and just kept going at them. To be down 6-0 and come back shows the kind of character this team has."
 
Junior Brandon Bentson went 7-for-9 with a double but was only able to contribute one run while pushing across two runs. Freshman Tyler Place went 4-for-6 with three triples and scored five times. Patchen also recorded four hits on the day.
 
Esquibel collected his 10th win of the season, making him the CSUSM single-season win record holder.  Senior Justin Hertzmann was the pitcher of record when Patchen's home run occurred.  He retired the side in the bottom of the seventh for the win.
 
The Cougars (31-14) conclude their regular season schedule on Friday, April 24 when they host Bethesda at 1 p.m. 
 
Game 1
The Cougars kept it simple in the first inning, scoring a run after three consecutive singles by junior Stefan Miladinovich, Bentson and Patchen.
 
After a leadoff single by senior Dylan Costello, Place hit a one-out RBI triple and later scored on freshman Austin Ott's single down the right line to put CSUSM up 3-0 after one and half innings.
 
The Eagles scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth when Andrew Smith hit a leadoff home run over the left center wall.
 
CSUSM posted three more runs in the top of the sixth inning. Junior Clinton Perez hit a one-out triple to center field and Place followed with his own triple down the right field. Ott hit a sacrifice fly to plate Place.  Gamo crushed his first home run of the season, sending the ball well over the right field wall.
 
The Cougars final run came in the eighth inning when Place scored on a Biola error after doubling to lead off the inning.  

Esquibel tallied seven strikeouts in his nine innings on the hill. He gave up nine hits and walked only one batter.
 
Game 2
After two innings of play, the Cougars found themselves down 6-0 to the Eagles in the nightcap.  In the third, Place drew a two-out walk followed by back-to-back Miladinovich and Bentson doubles cut Biola's lead to 6-2. 
 
CSUSM put up three more runs in the third inning on a Kory Smith double, a sacrifice fly by Ott and Place's third triple of the day.
 
Biola extended its lead to 7-5 in the bottom of the frame.
 
After two scoreless innings, Ott led off the seventh with a single but was out when Place hit into a fielder's choice.  Bentson hit a two-out single through the left side. With runners on the corners and down to the final out of the game, Patchen sent the ball over the left field wall for his third home run of the season.
 
Notes: The Cougars have tallied 173 extra base hits this season, tying the CSUSM record set in 2008 and 2012 … Patchen is one RBI away from tying Austin Coleman's record of 53 set in 2012 ... Place's three triples today tied the CSUSM single season record of six held by Jeremy Balm (2012).