HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team rebounded with a 4-1 victory over Cal State East Bay after being shut out of game one 5-0 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) doubleheader action on Saturday.
 
Junior Austin Ott led the Cougars with a 4-for-7 performance at the plate. Freshman Michael Lopez collected his fourth win of the season after allowing just one run in six innings on the mound.
 
CSUSM (13-12, 8-11 CCAA) and CSUEB (12-13, 9-10 CCAA) will face off in the series finale on Sunday, March 25 at 11 a.m. at Pioneer Field.
 
GAME 1: CSUEB 5 – CSUSM 0
The Pioneers recorded four runs on four hits in the second inning before adding a fifth run in the sixth on an CSUSM error.
 
Alex Vessia (3-2) went six innings in relief, relinquishing only three hits and struck out five for the win.
 
Junior Mike Lopez was handed the loss after six innings on the mound. He surrendered five runs, four earned, on six hits and fanned five batters.
 
GAME 2: CSUSM 4 – CSUEB 1
The Pioneers once again struck first with a run in the opening frame.
 
The Cougars generated two runs on sacrifice flies to take the lead in the second inning after junior Marcus Wilhite led off with a double and Ott followed with a single.
 
CSUSM added two insurance runs on three hits and two CSUEB errors in the fourth. Senior Aidan Stinnett got things started with a single up the middle and Wilhite reached on an infield bobble. An Ott single to center field loaded the bases for junior Isaias Torres' 2-RBI single through the left alleyway.