The Cal State San Marcos baseball jersey colors look right. The same goes for the "Cougars" stitched across the front.

But the players? Expect to learn a lot of new names in 2018.

"We've got a whole new group of guys," head coach Matt Guiliano said.

The fresh faces look eager, and that's a plus for Guiliano. In his second season at the CSUSM helm, Guiliano has revamped a roster to reflect his brand of winning baseball.

The quick run-down on Matty Ball? Well, it's run, run and run.

"We're getting some guys in here that fit what I like to do, and that is using your speed," said Guiliano, whose Cougars went 17-33 overall and 7-31 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association last season. "We're going to steal some bags and be aggressive. We've got a lot of guys with foot speed."

How fast Guiliano absorbed his learning curve was among last season's questions. After replacing longtime coach Dennis Pugh, it was a new team, new players and a new conference for the former Palomar College star.

"It was kind of a feel-out year of what I did have and didn't have," he said. "I'm not making excuses, but I had to figure out what our conference was all about."

Shortstop Tyler Place said this year's team matches Guiliano's approach.

"He was in a tough spot last year because he couldn't recruit and he was handed a team," Place said. "This year he's gone out and got his team."

Scoring runs is a challenge for any CCAA squad. The conference is known for its solid pitchers and stingy defenses, with offenses being tested.

"It's just different baseball," Guiliano said. "It's clean baseball."

Place, who hit .374 last season, usually has a dirty uniform after nine innings. The scrappy senior returns to lead the offense, and he likes the team's new look.

"I like to run, he likes to run and we are fast," said Place, who had a team-high 17 stolen bases last year. "He says our team should steal at least 100 bases."

Place, catcher Isaias Torres and outfielder Griffin Teisher are among a handful of returning position players. Among the new bats this season is Austin Ott, who redshirted last year. He's a reliable run-producer and Guiliano is eager to pencil his name on the scorecard.

"He'll be in the middle of the lineup," Guiliano said.

On the mound are four fresh CSUSM starters: Troy Lamparello, Taylor Greene and left-hander Brennan Piceno and Mike Lopez while southpaw Brady Corson is the only returning starter in the mix.

"We really focused on our pitching," Guiliano said. "These guys got some juice. We're excited about the guys that we have brought in."

With newcomer Brandon Bachman among those working the late innings, Guiliano is upbeat about the staff. And he's not alone.

"We have a bunch of new arms," Place said. "Our pitching is going to be better."

Taylor Ahearn, the Cougars' best pitcher last year, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in June. But CSUSM marches on, and it does so with the first Cougars squad Guiliano has constructed.

"I wanted to push this thing and be competitive right away," he said. "This is not a rebuilding type of a team. We saw what we needed to work on last year and I feel like the coaches did a pretty good job of getting the team we wanted."

It's one built around being quick and for the players, the season can't get here soon enough.

"We can't wait," Place said. "Our goal is to make the playoffs and then go from there."