SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team concludes its 2016 season this weekend with a split-venue series against UC San Diego. It will also be head coach Dennis Pugh's final games at the helm of the Cougar baseball squad.
 
The Schedule
Game 45
Friday, May 6 – 3 p.m.
UC San Diego (28-17, 21-8 CCAA) at Cal State San Marcos (21-23, 13-19 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Baseball Field
Live Stats | Live Video
 
Game 46 & 47
Saturday, May 7 – 12 p.m. (DH)
CSUSM at UCSD
La Jolla, Calif. – Triton Ballpark
Live Stats | Live Video
 
Game 48
Sunday, May 8 – 12 p.m.
UCSD at CSUSM
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Baseball Field
Live Stats | Live Video
 
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UCSD Preview
All-time vs. UCSD: 1-2
 
Last Meeting: The Cougars dropped an 8-4 decision in La Jolla on March 22, 2010 to then-No. 1 UC San Diego. CSUSM's leadoff batter Ricardo Moran went 4-for-5 and scored two runs.
 
UCSD Breakdown: In the last two weekends, the Tritons have dropped back-to-back series, 1-2, to Cal State Monterey Bay and Cal State East Bay. UCSD remains second in the CCAA South Division standings, four games head of third-place Cal State San Bernardino. The Tritons have made nine CCAA Tournament appearances in the last 10 years. With three true freshman filling four of the starter positions, UCSD ranks 21st in the nation with a 3.59 ERA.
 
Senior Day
On Sunday, the Cougars will honor eight seniors – L.A. Gamo, Jordan Kunz, Cameron MacKenzie, Emilio Esquibel, Clinton Perez, Jon Putnam and Brandon Bentson – for their years of service to the program in a special Senior Day ceremony. Be sure to be there before 11:30 a.m. to catch the festivities.
 
The Pugh File
Head coach Dennis Pugh is retiring at the end of academic school year after starting the CSUSM baseball program 10 years ago. Pugh has accumulated a 281-181-2 on field record while grooming 29 all-conference selections. Before coming to CSUSM, Pugh spent 27 years as the head baseball coach at Mission Bay High School in Pacific Beach.
 
CCAA Standings
North Division
1. Cal State Monterey Bay 20-13, 31-14
2. Chico State 20-14, 30-16
3. Cal State East Bay 18-15, 27-17
4. Sonoma State 16-17, 18-26
5. San Francisco State 14-18, 22-22
6. Stanislaus State 13-19, 22-22
 
South Division
1. Cal Poly Pomona 23-10, 31-14
2. UC San Diego 19-14, 29-16
3. Cal State San Bernardino 15-18, 20-25
4. Cal State Dominguez Hills 14-20, 21-25
5. Cal State San Marcos 13-19, 21-23
5. Cal State L.A. 13-19, 14-29
 
CSUSM in the CCAA Ranks
Team, top five
BATTING
1. Walks (203)
4. Doubles (75)
5. Runs (265)
5. Batting average (.296)
 
Individual, top five
BATTING
1. Sacrifice flies –Brandon Bentson (7)
2. Sacrifice bunts – L.A. Gamo (10)
3. Runs scored – Tyler Place (42)
3. Runs batted in – Clinton Perez (41)
3. Walks – Tyler Place (28)
4. Hit by pitch – Jon Putnam (11)
4. Home runs – Clinton Perez (7)

Outside the CCAA
CCAA teams have posted a 74-39 (.658) record against non-CCAA teams so far this season. The CCAA schools have a 43-29 (.597) 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 252 hits and counting.
 
Career Record Watch
Brandon Bentson
1st in Hits – 256 (Austin Coleman, 226)
1st in Games started – 190 (Austin Coleman, 176)
1st in Games played – 192 (Austin Coleman, 180)
2nd in Doubles – 46 (Austin Coleman, 56)
2nd in RBIs – 146 (Austin Coleman, 171)
2nd in Sacrifice flies – 19 (Austin Coleman, 24)
2nd in Walks – 68 (Kyle Secciani, 92, 2010-13)
2nd in Runs Scored – 144 (Austin Coleman, 158)
4th in Sacrifice Hits – 13 (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
2nd in Sacrifice Hits – 14 (Johnny Omahen, 15, 2008-11)
3rd in Walks – 62 (Kyle Secciani, 92, 2010-13)
 
Emilio Esquibel
3rd in Wins – 14 (Johnny Holtman, 19, 2008-11)
 
Cameron MacKenzie
3rd in Most Strikeouts Looking – 42 (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.
 
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.

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