SAN MARCOS, Calif. – For the third time in four weeks, the Cal State San Marcos baseball team will face the reigning CCAA Player of the Week. The Cougars travel to San Francisco State for a three-game series this weekend.  
 
The Schedule
Game 35 & 36
Saturday, April 9 – 12 p.m. (DH)
Cal State San Marcos (16-18, 8-14 CCAA) at San Francisco State (16-13, 9-9 CCAA)
San Francisco, Calif. – Maloney Field
Live Stats
 
Games 37
Sunday, April 10 – 11 a.m.
CSUSM at SF State
San Francisco, Calif. – Maloney Field
Live Stats
 
Baseball Social Media
Twitter (@CSUSMBaseball) | Instagram (@CSUSMBaseball)
 
Track The Cougars
There are now more ways than ever to stay in tune with your favorite CSUSM teams. Email updates, text messages and a weekly department-wide email digest are just a couple ways to stay updated. For more information on how to sign up, click here.
 
SF State Preview
All-time vs. San Francisco State: First meeting between these two teams.
 
SF State Breakdown: The Gators have won seven of their last eight games including a 12-1 victory over Sonoma State on Monday. SF State has a conference-low 84 walks in the year compared to CSUSM's 152 walks. Chris Nicholson was last week's CCAA Player of the Week after compiling a 1.313 slugging percentage and totaling four doubles and three home runs.
 
Last Series Recap
The Cougars took on their second nationally-ranked team this season, dropping the twinbill against then-No. 22 Chico State  on Saturday (9-1, 7-4) before pulling off a 10-8 comeback with a two-run walk-off home run by senior Clinton Perez on Sunday.
 
CCAA Standings
North Division
1. Chico State 13-7, 23-9
2. Sonoma State 10-6, 12-15
3. Cal State Monterey Bay 11-7, 22-8
4. San Francisco State 9-9, 16-13
5. Cal State East Bay 9-11, 18-13
6. Stanislaus State 8-11, 16-14
 
South Division
1. Cal Poly Pomona 13-7, 21-11
2. UC San Diego 12-10, 22-12
3. Cal State San Bernardino 10-10, 15-17
4. Cal State Dominguez Hills 8-12, 14-17
5. Cal State San Marcos 8-14, 16-18
6. Cal State L.A. 6-13, 7-23
 
CSUSM in the CCAA Ranks
Team, top five
BATTING
2. Hits (337)
2. Walks (152)
3. Batting average (.335)
3. Runs (210)
3. Hit by pitches (33)
3. Runs batted in (162)
4. Doubles (58)

 
Individual, top five
BATTING
1. Sacrifice flies –Brandon Bentson (6)
1. Hit by pitch – Jon Putnam (11)
2. Sacrifice bunts – L.A. Gamo (8)
2. Runs scored – Tyler Place (34)
3. Runs batted in – Clinton Perez (31)
3. Runs scored – Brandon Bentson (28)
2. Walks – L.A. Gamo (22)
4. Hits – Tyler Place (49)
5. Sacrifice flies – Jon Putnam (5)
5. Doubles – Clinton Perez (9)
5. Runs scored – Brandon Bentson (30)
 
Outside the CCAA
CCAA teams have posted a 72-39 (.649) record against non-CCAA teams so far this season. The CCAA schools have a 42-29 (.592) record against Pac West schools. CSUSM has tallied an 8-4 non-conference record in 2016 with a 2-2 record against PacWest schools.
 
Records Are Made To Be Broken
Senior Brandon Bentson became the CSUSM hit leader after recording a single in his fourth at bat on Friday, March 11 against Cal Poly Pomona. The hit passed CSUSM Hall of Famer Austin Coleman's (2008-12) record of 226 hits. Bentson now has 243 hits and counting.
 
Career Record Watch
Brandon Bentson
1st in Hits – 243 (Austin Coleman, 226)
1st in Games started – 180 (Austin Coleman, 176)
1st in Games played – 182 (Austin Coleman, 180)
2nd in Doubles – 43 (Austin Coleman, 56)
2nd in RBIs – 141 (Austin Coleman, 171)
2nd in Sacrifice flies – 18 (Austin Coleman, 24)
3rd in Runs Scored – 136 (Austin Coleman, 158)
3rd in Walks – 64 (Kyle Secciani, 92, 2010-13)
3rd in Sacrifice Hits – 12 (Johnny Omahen, 15, 2008-11)
 
Tyler Place
T2nd in Triples – 10 (Kyle Secciani, 18, 2010-13)

Jon Putnam
3rd in Hit By Pitch – 25 (Austin Coleman, 37)
 
Austin Ott
3rd in Sacrifice Flies – 11 (Austin Coleman, 24)
 
L.A. Gamo
3rd in Sacrifice Hits – 12 (Johnny Omahen, 15, 2008-11)
 
Emilio Esquibel
3rd in Wins – 14 (Johnny Holtman, 19, 2008-11)
 
Cameron MacKenzie
3rd in Most Strikeouts Looking – 33 (Johnny Holtman, 59, 2008-11)
 
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.

CSUSM Athletics Social Media
The Cougars are now more "social" than ever… Navigate to the CSUSM Athletics Social Media Directory to connect with your favorite teams, coaches and administrators.