SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team fell, 9-6, in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series finale against Cal State San Bernardino on Sunday afternoon.
 
The Cougars drop to 16-30 overall and 6-28 in conference action. The Coyotes improve to 14-32 on the season and 11-23 in CCAA play.
 
Freshman third baseman Riley Froom drove in two runs after going 3-for-4 with a triple and double. Junior second baseman Nico Maida went 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs.
 
In the first inning, freshman outfielder Griffin Teisher singled up the middle to lead off. Two hit batters loaded the bases before Teisher came home on a passed ball to give CSUSM a 1-0 lead.
 
The Coyotes evened the game at 1-1 when Dominic Campeau led off the second with a home run to right.
 
CSUSM once again took the lead in the bottom of the frame on Froom's RBI triple that plated Maida who began the inning with a walk.
 
CSUSB answered again with a run in the top of the third on Lucas Martinez's RBI double to right center to knot the game at 2-2.
 
The Coyotes took their first lead of the game in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a CSUSM error.
 
It was the Cougars' turn to answer in the bottom of the frame, putting up the first crooked number of the day on the scoreboard. Senior designated hitter Ross Lemmel hit a one-out blooper that dropped right in front of the Coyote centerfielder. Back-to-back walks granted to Maida and junior shortstop Riley Manquen once again loaded the bases for CSUSM. Froom chopped the ball through the left alley way to score Lemmel and Teisher grounded out to second to plate Maida, making it 4-3 CSUSM.
 
With two outs and runners at the corners, Maida hit a one-hop single to right field to plate freshman outfielder Kevin Britt to raise CSUSM's lead to 5-3.
 
CSUSB put up six runs on three hits and three Cougar errors in the top of the seventh inning, giving the Coyotes a 9-5 cushion.
 
CSUSM's final run came on Manquen's single to the opposite field to score Lemmel from second base in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Senior Taylor Ahearn got a no-decision after going six innings and relinquishing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and striking out six. Junior Shawn Hunt (0-4) took the loss after giving up five runs (three earned) without securing an out. CSUSB's Dylan Stablein (2-0) tossed one shutout inning with a hit and a walk to earn the win.
 
The Cougars will close out their 2017 campaign next weekend with a split-venue four-game series against Cal State L.A.