SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team dropped both ends of its California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) doubleheader against No. 14 Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday at CSUSM Baseball Field. The final scores were 7-3 and 7-5.
The Cougars fall to 13-16 overall and 8-15 in conference play while the Otters improve to 22-7 on the season, 16-7 in CCAA action.
In the two games, senior
Tyler Place went 4-for-7 with four runs including an RBI double and a solo home run. Classmate
Aidan Stinnett tallied three hits and three RBIs on the day.
The Cougars will attempt to avoid a CSUMB sweep on Saturday, March 31 with the series finale beginning at 11 a.m.
GAME 1: CSUMB 7 – CSUSM 3
Place got things started for the Cougars in the fourth inning, taking the first pitch over the right field wall for his fifth home run of the season.
CSUMB's Jacob Tonascia answered with a two-run homer in the top of the fifth.
The Cougars wasted no time tying the score in the bottom of the frame. Junior
Austin Ott led off with an infield single and later scored on
Joseph Bahna's RBI single to left field.
The Otters put up three runs on two hits in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead over the Cougars.
The Cougars put up an additional run on the board but CSUMB was able to tally two more runs, including a homer by T.J. Dove to clinch the win.
GAME 2: CSUMB 7 – CSUSM 5
Once again, the Cougars jumped out to an 1-0 lead. Place hit a two-out single, stole second and plated on Stinnett's single through the right side.
Similar to game one, CSUSM's lead didn't last long. The Otters posted five runs on five hits in the top of the fourth and an additional run in the fifth to make it 6-1.
A two-run homer by Stinnett to right cut the Otter lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the sixth.
The Otters got an insurance run on a wild pitch in the top of the seventh frame.
The Cougars put together a rally in the bottom of the seventh. Junior pinch hitter
Isaias Torres led off with a double to left center. Consecutive two-out RBI doubles by junior
Näshéa Diggs and Place made it 7-5.
CSUMB's Connor Fabing came in to force a fly out to center to end the game and earn his fourth save of the season. Otter starter Colton Fletcher (6-1) collected the win after going 6.2 innings.