SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team dropped both ends of its doubleheader to visiting No. 22 Chico State Saturday in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action at CSUSM Baseball Field. The Cougars dropped a 9-1 decision in the opener before letting a lead get away and falling 7-4 in extra innings.
The Cougars fall to 15-18 overall and 7-14 in conference play. The Wildcats remain in first place in the CCAA North Division with a 12-4 record, 22-6 overall.
Sophomore
Austin Ott recorded three hits on the day, all of them coming in the second game. The other 12 CSUSM hits were spread out among six different Cougars.
The Cougars will conclude their three-game series against the Wildcats on Sunday, April 3. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.
Game 1: Chico State 9 – CSUSM 1The Wildcats posted three runs in the second inning and another run in the fifth before CSUSM got on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Senior
L.A. Gamo reached second on a fly ball that bounced out of the Wildcat right fielder's glove. Gamo advanced to third on a passed ball before scoring on senior
Brandon Bentson's sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Chico State notched another run in the seventh before putting the game out of reach in the ninth with four additional runs.
Senior
Cameron MacKenzie (4-2) took the loss after five innings on the mound, giving up four runs – two earned – on seven hits. Clayton Gelfand (6-2) collected the win and A.J. Esptein (2) earned the save.
Game 2: Chico State 7 – CSUSM 4 (10 innings)The Cougars four runs all came in the first two innings with three in the opening frame. Sophomore
Tyler Place drew a one-out walk and scored on Bentson's double to deep right-center gap. Senior
Clinton Perez reached second after his fly ball got lost in the sun by the Wildcat centerfielder. Ott's laser single up the middle plated both Bentson and Perez, giving CSUSM a 3-0 lead.
Chico State took advantage of a CSUSM error to get on the board in the top of the second.
Junior
Ross Lemmel reached on a four-pitch walk and later scored on Place's two-out Texas-Leaguer single to right center to make it 4-1 CSUSM.
In the top of the third, Gamo made a diving catch in left field to prevent two Chico State runs from scoring.
Chico State notched another run in the fourth on one hit and two CSUSM errors to make it 4-2 Cougars.
The Wildcats cut the CSUSM lead to 4-3 with a run in the top of the sixth.
In the top of the ninth, Place leapped to grab a line drive and Bentson reached over the fence in foul territory for the first two outs. CSUSM starter
Emilio Esquibel walked last week's CCAA Player of the Week Sonny Cortez and Cameron Santos singled to put Wildcat runners on first and second. Junior
Hayden Weir came in to relieve Esquibel with CSUSM needing only one out to clinch the win. Ben Gamba hit the ball to Place who flipped Lemmel at third base for what looked like was the final out. But the umpire called Lemmel off the bag, resulting in a fielder's choice and error. Chico State's Kelley drive in the tying run on a single to Ott and a 4-2-1 play at home would get the final out of the frame.
Gamo stretched out a triple to lead off the bottom of the ninth. The Wildcats intentionally walked Place and Bentson to load the bases. Their strategy worked as CSUSM hit into a fielder's choice and a double play to get out of the jam and force extra innings.
Chico State's offense exploded with its first multi-run inning of the nightcap, scoring three runs on three hits and CSUSM's fifth error of the game.
Esquibel got a no-decision after tossing 8 2/3 innings, giving up four runs with only one earned. Weir (3-2) took the loss after 1 1/3 innings on the hill, with all three runs earned. Chico State's Steven Baker (4-0) collected the win after two shutout innings.
