SAN BERNARDINO – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team earned its first road win of the season in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play as the Cougars split a twinbill with Cal State San Bernardino at Fiscalini Field. A pitching duel on both ends of the doubleheader, CSUSM won game one 1-0 before falling 2-0 in the nightcap.
The Cougars had a slight edge on hits at 12 to CSUSB's 11 on the day. Senior
Brandon Bentson drove in CSUSM's lone run and finished with three hits including two doubles on the day. Juniors
Ross Lemmel and
Hudson Bilodeau added two hits.
CSUSM closes out the four-game series against the Coyotes on Saturday, March 5 with a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
Game 1: CSUSM 1 – CSUSB 0Cougars came out on top in the series opener,1-0, against the Coyotes. Senior
Cameron MacKenzie (3-0) allowed just two hits over seven-shutout innings en-route to his third win of the season. MacKenzie walked just two batters while fanning six on the day. Junior
Hayden Weir came in relief to close out the shutout to pick up his first save of 2016. He allowed only one hit in his two innings on the mound.
The Cougars broke through for a run in the top of the sixth. Lemmel led off with a single and advanced to third on sophomore
Austin Ott's double off the left field wall. Bentson sent one down the middle to plate Lemmel.
CSUSB ace Tyler Wells took the loss after going six innings and giving up one run on five hits.
CSUSM scattered six hits in the contest.
Game 2: CSUSB 2 – CSUSM 0 Coyote starter Don Sullivan spread out six hits in his complete game shutout.
CSUSM's best chances came in the final three innings. Bentson led off both the seventh and ninth innings with doubles to right field but was stranded each time.
In the eighth inning, the Cougars loaded the bases with one out after Bilodeau singled, Lemmel followed with a double and sophomore
Tyler Place dew a walk. The Coyotes got out of the jam with a double play.
Senior
Emilio Esquibel recorded the loss for CSUSM, pitching 7 2/3 innings and giving up two runs – one earned – on eight hits.