SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Senior Manny Barragan (4-4) worked his way through six innings and Cal State San Marcos baseball team swept visiting Sonoma State in a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series, following a 5-1 win on Sunday afternoon at CSUSM Baseball Field.
 
With the win, CSUSM (20-18, 12-14 CCAA) is a half a game behind fourth-place Cal State San Bernardino in the CCAA South Division standings. The Seawolves (13-21, 11-12 CCAA) drop to fourth place in the CCAA North Division with the loss. The CCAA series sweep is CSUSM's second in program history with the first coming against Cal State Dominguez Hills (March 18-20). 
 
Sophomore Colin Dvorak went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Seniors Brandon Bentson and Jon Putnam also registered two hits on the day.
 
Sonoma State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on Spencer Neve's single through the left side that scored Matthew Richards who led off the inning with a walk.
 
The Cougars evened the game in the bottom of the frame. Bentson was rewarded first after four consecutive balls. Putnam faked a bunt and sent the ball with a sharp curve to left field for a single. Dvorak laid down a bunt single to third to load the bases.  On the first pitch he faced, sophomore Riley Manquen hit a Texas League single to left field that plated Bentson to make it 1-1.
 
Senior L.A. Gamo was granted first base to lead off the third after the ball nicked his right arm. Sophomore Tyler Place followed with his fifth walk of the series.  With both runners on the move, senior Clinton Perez hit a hard single past SSU's third baseman. Gamo stumbled making the turn at third but scored easily to put CSUSM up 2-1. Place scored on Bentson's Texas Leaguer to left field. Dvorak hit a line drive, 2-RBI single to left center to close out the CSUSM scoring at 5-1.
 
The Seawolves stranded 11 batters and did not take advantage of the 10 walks CSUSM granted in the game.
 
Barragan struck out four batters and relinquished only three hits in the contest. Senior Jordan Kunz entered in the seventh with two runners on and forced three fly outs to get out of the jam.  After issuing two walks to begin the eighth, Kunz was relieved by junior Taylor Ahearn who retired the next batter before CSUSM pulled off its second double play of the game. Following a strikeout in the top of the ninth, Ahearn gave up a single but retired the next two batters in order to give CSUSM the win and series sweep.

SSU's ace Matt Hammonds took the loss after CSUSM scored all five earned runs against the left-handed pitcher. Entering the contest, Hammonds had only given up seven earned runs in 35 innings for a 1.80 ERA. 

 
Sonoma State entered the series ranked eighth in the nation in double plays, averaging one per game. The Cougars only hit into one in the entire three-game series.
 
CSUSM makes its final trip to Northern California next weekend, taking on the Pioneers of Cal State East Bay.