SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team concludes its nonconference schedule this week, hosting San Diego Christian and La Sierra.
 
The Schedule
Game 10
Tuesday, February 16 – 2 p.m.
San Diego Christian (4-4) at CSUSM (6-3)
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Baseball Field
Live Stats | Live Video
 
Game 11 & 12
Friday, February 19 – 11 a.m.
La Sierra (5-7) at CSUSM
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Baseball Field
Live Stats | Live Video
 
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New Season, New Surroundings
The Cougars enter their first season of NCAA Division II competition and California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play in 2016 after playing its first nine seasons in the NAIA. CSUSM made three postseason appearances during its time in the NAIA.
 
Concordia (Calif.) Series Recap
CSUSM dropped a twinbill, 6-2 and 4-2, at CUI on Friday despite collecting the same amount of hits (12) as the Eagles on the day. The Cougars retaliated with a 13-0 shutout in Saturday's doubleheader opener at CSUSM Baseball Field. CSUSM closed out the series by holding on to a 4-3 victory in the nightcap.
 
San Diego Christian Preview
All-time vs. SDCC: 24-15
 
Last Time Out: L, 8-9 (February 3, 2016). The Cougars committed five errors, which resulted in six unearned runs, in their second outing of the season. CSUSM held an 8-7 lead into the eighth inning when the Hawks put together three consecutive singles to take the win from the Cougars.
 
SDCC Breakdown: After taking the win from CSUSM, the Hawks dropped three games by one run at Cal State Dominguez Hills that weekend. SDCC returned home to win a three-game series against Arizona Christian last weekend. 
 
La Sierra Preview
All-time vs. LSU: 36-1
 
Last Time Out: W, 9-0 & W, 19-1 (February 3, 2016). The Cougars collected 27 hits that included three doubles and CSUSM's first home run of 2016 (courtesy of senior Clinton Perez) against the Golden Eagles.
 
LSU Breakdown: La Sierra has put together a 3-2 record since facing the Cougars, taking a three-game series from Providence Christian before settling for a doubleheader split with Cal Tech on Feb. 14.

Notes
Tyler Place has recorded 17 hits in nine games, highest amount among CCAA hitters … Clinton Perez and Brandon Bentson have each homered this season … L.A. Gamo picked up right where he left off last season when he broke the CSUSM record with 38 walks, drawing seven in the first nine games … The Cougar pitching staff has a 1.48 ERA with only 12 earned runs while ringing up 63 batters. 

The Pugh File
Head coach Dennis Pugh enters his tenth season at the helm of the Cougars in 2016. Pugh has accumulated a 254-143-2 on field record while grooming 29 all-conference selections. Prior to his time at CSUSM, Pugh spent 27 years as the head baseball coach at Mission Bay High School in Pacific Beach.
 
New Territory
After nine seasons of competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Cougars enter their first season of NCAA Division II competition in 2015-16. CSUSM is currently in the second year of a three-year transition to full NCAA Division II membership. As a part of the transition, the Cougars will be ineligible for postseason play in 2016 and 2017.

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