SAN FRANCISCO – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team fell 9-7 to San Francisco State in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series finale on Sunday at Maloney Field.
 
The Cougars drop to 10-8 overall and 5-7 in conference action. The Gators clinch the series at 3-1, improving to 6-15, 6-10 CCAA.
 
Senior Aidan Stinnett went 3-for-5 with a double, RBI and a run. Senior Tyler Place and junior Marcus Wilhite each tallied two hits in the game.
 
CSUSM took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Stinnett's double to right center that scored two runs. 
 
The Gators quickly responded with two of their own runs in the bottom of the frame, notching three hits and taking advantage of a CSUSM error.
 
Jordan Kritsch's 2-RBI single to center gave SF State a 4-2 lead in the second inning.
 
After both teams recorded a run in the fifth, CSUSM evened the game at 5-5 in the top of the sixth on Places' two-out, two-run single to right center field.
 
The Gators broke the tie with two runs in the bottom of the frame before adding two more in the eighth to make it 9-5.
 
CSUSM attempted a ninth inning rally with the bases loaded and no outs for junior Ruben Valdez's RBI single to the right side. After the Gators put Jordan Yrastorza on the mound, the Cougars were able to get one more run across before the final out to make it 9-7.
 
Stinnett took the loss after 1.2 innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits.
 
Kritsch and Harley Lopez each tallied three hits for the Gators.
 
CSUSM returns home to host Sonoma State in a four-game CCAA series beginning on Friday at 3 p.m.