SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team opens its inaugural California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) season this weekend, facing Cal State L.A. in a split series. The Cougars will host the Golden Eagles in a single game on both Friday and Saturday before heading to Los Angeles for a doubleheader on Sunday.
 
The Schedule
Game 13
Friday, February 26 – 2 p.m.
Cal State L.A. (1-10) at Cal State San Marcos (8-4)
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Baseball Field
Live Stats | (Live Video Unavailable)  
 
Game 14
Saturday, February 27 – 2 p.m.
CSULA at CSUSM
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Baseball Field
Live Stats | Live Video
 
Game 15 & 16
Sunday, February 28 – 11 a.m.
CSUSM at CSULA
Los Angeles, Calif. – Reeder Field
Live Stats | Live Video
 
 
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Previous Weekend Recap
The Cougars completed a four-game series sweep over La Sierra last Friday, recording 13-5 and 14-5 victories in the doubleheader at CSUSM Baseball Field. CSUSM racked up 31 hits off the LSU pitching staff that included 11 doubles and one triple. Senior Brandon Bentson went 5-for-8 with three doubles while driving in five runs and plating four times. Seniors Clinton Perez and Jon Putnam along with sophomore Tyler Place each collected four hits.
 
Cal State L.A. Preview
All-time vs. CSULA: 3-1
 
Last Series: CSUSM swept CSULA (8-2, 10-8 & 9-4) on March 19-20, 2010. The Cougars racked up 36 hits including four doubles, two triples and three home runs in the series.
 
CSULA Breakdown: The Golden Eagles finished 2015 fourth in the CCAA standings but have had a rough start to the 2016 season. The opened the season with an 8-2 victory over Cal Baptist before dropping 10 consecutive games that consisted of three shutouts and four one-run losses. CSULA has the lowest batting average in the CCAA at .189 while the Cougars boast the highest at .361.
 
CSUSM in the CCAA Ranks
Team, top five
BATTING
1. Batting average (.361)
1. Hit by pitches (17)
1. Runs (101)
2. Hits (127)
2. Doubles (25)
3. Runs batted in (84)
4. Triples (3)
 
PITCHING
1. Walks (26)
2. ERA (2.12)
2. Earned runs (21)
 
Individual, top five
BATTING
1. Hits – Tyler Place (21)
1. Hit by pitch – Jon Putnam (6)
1. Runs scored – Tyler Place (19)
1. Sacrifice flies – Austin Ott (4)
2. Triples – Tyler Place (2)
2. Sacrifice flies – Brandon Bentson & Jon Putnam (3)
2. Sacrifice bunts – L.A. Gamo & Clinton Perez (3)
3. Runs scored – Brandon Bentson (16)
4. Batting Average – Clinton Perez (.485)
4. Runs batted in – Clinton Perez (14)
4. Doubles (5)
 
PITCHING
1. ERA – Manny Barragan (0.00)

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.
 
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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