SAN MARCOS, Calif – Juniors Marcus Wilhite and Näshéa Diggs each had three hits, but the Cal State San Marcos baseball team fell to No. 14 Cal State Monterey Bay, 18-7, in the opening game of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series on Thursday.

CSUSM drops to 13-14 overall and 8-13 in conference action. The Otters improve to 20-7 on the season and 14-7 in CCAA play.

Senior Tyler Place went 2-for-4 with three runs and a double.

The Cougars took their first and eventually only lead of the game in the second inning. Junior Domenic Antonacci led off with a single and advanced 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt by junior Adam Tanoue. Diggs knocked out an RBI double to right center and later scored on a ground out to put CSUSM up 3-1.

The lead didn't last long as CSUMB racked up 11 runs on nine hits and two errors in the third inning.

The Cougars registered 15 hits to the Otters' 18 in the game.

CSUMB's Hayden Duer went 2-for-4 with a RBI double and three-run homer.

The teams return to the field on Friday, March 31 with a doubleheader beginning at noon.