SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team received the No. 5-seed for the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round and will open play Tuesday against No. 4-seed Vanguard (Calif.) in the Santa Clarita Bracket.
 
THE SCHEDULE
Game 51 – Santa Clarita Bracket Game 1
Tuesday, May 12 – 9 a.m.
(5)Cal State San Marcos (36-15) vs. (4)Vanguard (34-20)
Santa Clarita, Calif. – Reese Field at Lou Herwaldt Stadium
Live Stats | Live Video
 
If CSUSM wins Game 1,
Game 52 – Santa Clarita Bracket Game 3 (Winners Bracket)
Tuesday, May 12 – 3 p.m.
(5)Cal State San Marcos (36-15) vs. The Master's College (42-12)
Live Stats | Live Video
 
If CSUSM loses Game 1,
Game 52 – Santa Clarita Bracket Game 3 (Losers Bracket)
Wednesday, May 13 – 9 a.m.
(5)Cal State San Marcos (36-15) vs. (3)British Columbia (38-17) or (2)Northwestern Ohio (42-13)
Live Stats | Live Video
 
Santa Clarita Bracket
Forty-five qualifiers will play out nine double-elimination tournaments across the country to determine the nine teams that will join host Lewis Clark State in the 59th annual Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, May 22-29. CSUSM was placed in the Santa Clarita Bracket, along with (1)The Master's College, (2)Northwestern Ohio, (3)British Columbia and (4)Vanguard. If the Cougars win on Tuesday morning, they will face The Master's College at 3 p.m. A loss would move them to an elimination game slated for Wednesday, May 13 at 9 a.m. against the loser of Northwestern Ohio and British Columbia.
 
Live Coverage
Live video of all the action, equipped with live play-by-play will be available for a fee on The Master's College Stretch Internet Channel. There will be free live stats via Dakstats Webcast. As always, fans can follow game updates through the CSUSM Baseball twitter account, @CSUSMBaseball.
 
CSUSM's Opening Round History
CSUSM is making its third appearance in five years in the national tournament. The team is 2-4 overall in the NAIA Opening Round. This is CSUSM's second time participating in the Santa Clarita Bracket, going 0-2 in 2013. In their first postsesaon appearance, the Cougars went 2-2 in 2011 with wins over St. Thomas and British Columbia while falling twice to Cal Baptist.
 
Vanguard Preview
All-time vs. VU: 17-11
Last Meeting: L, 1-5 (April 7, 2015). A four-run first inning by Vanguard proved to be the difference maker as the Cougars dropped a 5-1 decision to the Lions last month. CSUSM was limited to just four hits with Tyler Place going 2-for-3 with a double.
VU Breakdown: The Lions went 0-2 at the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Tournament last week, falling to The Master's College (8-4) and Concordia (Calif.)(12-2).
 
The Master's College Preview
All-time vs. TMC: 6-12
Last Series: Doubleheader split – 0-5, 5-4 (April 16, 2014). Down 4-2 heading into its final at-bat after being shutout in game one, the Cougars rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh and escaped with a 5-4 victory in game two to earn a split at then-No. 12 The Master's College at Reese Field.
TMC Breakdown: The ninth-ranked Mustangs opened the GSAC Tournament with an 8-4 win over Vanguard before being eliminated after losses to Westmont (1-5) and Concordia (4-13).
 
Northwestern Ohio Preview
All-time vs. UNOH: First meeting
UNOH Breakdown: The Racers were semi-finalists in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament, falling to eventual champion Davenport, 3-2, on Wednesday, May 6 in Adrian, Mich.
 
British Columbia Preview
All-time vs. UBC: 1-2
Last Meeting: W, 7-5 (May 13, 2011). The Cougars held on to defeat British Columbia, 7-5, on day two of the NAIA Opening Round in Riverside. 
UBC Breakdown:  The Thunderbirds were clutch in all facets of the game in defeating host Concordia (Ore.), 5-2, in the second-and-deciding match-up of the NAIA West final on Monday, May 4 in Portland, Ore.
 
CSUSM Record Books
The Cougars have taken down numerous team and individual season records already this year:

Team Records
Most Doubles: 137 in 2015 (Previous record was 101 in 2011 & 2012)
Most Shutouts: 9 in 2015 (Previous record was 8 in 2013) 
Most Wins: 36 in 2015 (Previous record was 34 in 2011)
Most Saves: 11 saves in 2015 (Previous record was 11 in 2010 & 2012)
Most Hits: 604 in 2015 (Previous record was 587 in 2011)
Most Triples: 27 in 2015 (Previous record was 26 in 2012)
Most Runs Scored: 421 in 2015 (Previous record was 394 in 2011)
Most RBIs: 370 in 2015 (Previous record was 352 in 2009)
Most Strikeouts: 356 in 2015 (Previous record was 350 in 2012)
Most Strikeout Looking: 98 in 2015 (Previous record was 89 in 2011 & 2008)

Individual Records
Most Saves: Justin Hertzmann – 10 saves (Previous record: Andrew Larsen – 7 in 2012)
Most Wins: Emilio Esquibel – 12 wins (Previous record: James Dykstra – 9 wins)
Most Combined Shutouts: Emilio Esquibel – 5 CSO (Previous record: Seven tied at 3)
Most Hits: Stefan Miladinovich – 90 hits (Previous record: James Scott – 78 in 2009)
Most Triples: Tyler Place – 8 (Previous record: Jeremy Baum – 6 in 2012)
Most Runs Scored: Stefan Miladinovich – 56 runs (Tied previous record: Trent Jemmett 56 runs in 2011)
Most RBIs: Ray Patchen – 56 (CSUSM Record: Austin Coleman – 53 in 2012)
Most Walks: L.A. Gamo – 37 (Ties CSUSM Record: Kyle Secciani in 2011 & Dane Ponciano in 2009)
Longest Hit Streak: Ray Patchen - 24 games (Previous record: Kevin Silvett – 23 games in 2010)

CSUSM Records to Watch
Team Records
Most Walks: 212 in 2015 (CSUSM record: 222 in 2011)

Individual Records
Most Doubles: Stefan Miladinovich – 20; Denny Vigo – 18; Ray Patchen – 16; Brandon Bentson – 16 (CSUSM Record: Austin Coleman – 21 in 2012)
Longest Streak of Reaching Base Safely: Ray Patchen – 41 games (CSUSM Record: Trent Jemmett – 43 games in 2011)
Most Sacrifice Flies: Ray Patchen – 7 (CSUSM Record: Austin Coleman – 9 in 2011)

In the NAIA
The Cougars remain in the nation's top 10 in numerous categories including No. 1 in doubles and hits per game. Here is a list of the significant rankings…
 
Team Rankings
•  No. 1 in doubles per game (2.7)
•  No. 2 in hits per game (11.8)
•  No. 3 doubles (137)
•  No. 3 in batting average (.350)
•  No. 5 in triples (28)
•  No. 8 in slugging percentage (.510)
•  No. 9 in runs scored per game (8.1)
•  No. 9 in runs batted in per game (7.1)

Individual Rankings
•  Stefan Miladinovich – No. 1 in hits per game (1.8)
•  Emilio Esquibel – No. 2 in wins (12)
•  Stefan Miladinovich – No. 3 total hits (90)
•  Tyler Place – No. 5 in triples (9)
•  Denny Vigo – No. 7 in doubles per game (0.49)
•  Justin Hertzmann – No. 9 in saves (10)

Who We Are
CSUSM is an NAIA Division I institution which competes in the Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Conference. CSUSM was accepted into NCAA Division II Candidacy Year One and the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) during the summer and is currently going through a three-year transition phase in order to gain full NCAA DII status for the 2017-18 season. The 2014-15 season will be the school's final year in the NAIA.

CSUSM Athletics Social Media
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