SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team jumped out to an early lead but was unable to hold on, falling 4-3 in 12 innings to University of Northwestern Ohio at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round on Wednesday morning at Reese Field on the campus of The Master's College.
 
"I was very pleased with how we played," said head coach Dennis Pugh. "I think we just peaked at the wrong time.
 
"A few breaks here or there and we would have been going to the World Series."
 
CSUSM finishes the season with a 36-17 overall record, the most wins in program history.  UNOH moves on to face The Master's College in its second elimination game at 3 p.m.
 
The Cougars started the scoring with three runs in the top of the second on Stefan Miladinovich's bases-loaded single that pushed two runs across.  Brandon Bentson followed with a RBI single to put CSUSM up 3-0.
 
CSUSM starter Emilio Esquibel (12-1) held the Racers hitless in his first 3.2 innings. UNOH evened the game in the fourth with a two-out rally.  Ryan Lozarda drove in two runs on double to left center and Kyle Fisher's RBI single made it 3-3.
 
The Cougars had an opportunity to break the tie in the top of the eighth when Clinton Perez led off with a double to left field. UNOH starter was able to retire the next three batters.
 
Rafael Lozada, pinch hitting for UNOH, began the ninth with a double to center field and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt.  Reliever Justin Hertzmann intentionally walked the next batter to put runners on the corners.  Ross Lemmel, entered as the left fielder but became the fifth infielder in an attempt to close the gaps. Fisher sent the ball to shallow right and Dylan Costello threw a perfect ball home for a 9-2 double play, the first double play of the game.
 
In the bottom of the 10th, UNOH's J Cardona hit one deep to left field but Perez made a great catch before slamming into the fence for the final out.
 
L.A. Gamo, on a full-count with one out in the next frame, crushed the ball to right field but had his home run robbed on a great leap by Jose Cruz.
 
The Cougars got into the same position in the 12th as they had in the ninth, resorting to another five-man infield. Unfortunately, they were not able to make the double play happen and UNOH walked away with the win.
 
Bentson led the Cougar offense with a 3-for-6 performance and Perez recorded two doubles on the day.

CSUSM says goodbye to the following seniors: Dylan Costello, Kyle Hansen,Justin Hertzmann, Kyle Montiel, Ray Patchen, Kory Smith, Denny Vigo.