CARSON, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team recorded its first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series sweep in program history with a 7-4 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills on Sunday afternoon at Toro Field.
 
The Cougars improve to 14-14 overall and 6-10 in CCAA play. CSUDH drops to 10-13, 5-9 CCAA.
 
"This was a total surprise," said head coach Dennis Pugh. "But the hard work the guys have been putting in finally resulted in having a great series."
 
Twelve CSUSM hits, all singles, were scattered among seven Cougars in the contest. Junior Hudson Bilodeau went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Senior Brandon Bentson and junior Colin Dvorak also drove in two runs apiece.
 
CSUSM struck early, putting together a five-run first inning. Bentson and senior Clinton Perez each pushed a run across after sophomores Tyler Place and Austin Ott began the game with back-to-back singles. Senior L.A. Gamo reached first on an error to load the bases. Dvorak hit a 2 RBI single through the left side and Bilodeau's ground out enabled Gamo to score.
 
The Cougars added to their lead in the fifth. Bentson's single up the middle drove in sophomore Riley Manquen who reached on a fielder's choice that sent Bilodeau back to the dugout.
 
CSUSM starter Manny Barragan held the Toros hitless in the first time through the lineup. On the second time through, the first three Toros strung consecutive singles together, took advantage of a CSUSM error and scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth.
 
The Cougars answered with another run in the top of the fifth. Perez led off with a single, advanced to third on a Gamo sacrifice bunt and Dvorak's ground out. Perez would score on Bilodeau's bunt single to third base, making it 7-2 CSUSM.
 
The Toros would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, forcing Pugh to go to his bullpen. Junior Taylor Ahearn entered with runners on first and second
 
With runners on first and second, junior Taylor Ahearn took the mound and forced the next two Toros to hit into a 1-6-3 double play and a ground out. Ahearn got the final three outs via a groundout and double play to close the book and picked up his first save of the season.
 
Barragan (3-3) collected the win after seven innings of work. Last week's CCAA Pitcher of the Week Jeffrey Gogue (3-2) took the loss after being yanked in the first inning when he gave up five runs.
 
The Cougars make their first road trip to Northern California next weekend, traveling to Stanislaus State for a three-game series.