SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Junior Cabot Van Til went 4-for-5 and senior Aidan Stinnett had a 3-for-4 performance at the plate to lead the Cal State San Marcos baseball team to a 8-6 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) victory over Chico State on Friday afternoon.
 
The Cougars improve to 16-19 on the season and 11-18 in conference action while the Wildcats fall to 21-16, 17-14 in CCAA play.
 
All nine Cougars in the starting lineup got a hit as CSUSM outhit Chico State 16-9.  Stinnett hit his third home run of the season. Van Til finished with two RBIs and a double. Junior Justin Mellano notched two doubles on the day.
 
The Wildcats struck first on Louis Canjura's 2-RBI single down the left line in the top of the third.
 
CSUSM answered in the bottom of the frame with three runs on four hits and a Wildcat error. Van Til led off with a blooper on the right foul line and advanced to third on senior Tyler Place's liner up the middle that almost took Wildcat starting pitcher Grant Larson's head off.  Van Til scored on Stinnett's lined shot that bounced out of the diving Chico right fielder's glove. The Wildcats made a throwing error after Stinnett stole second that allowed him to go to third and gave Place a chance to come home. Junior Austin Ott's RBI single through the left side put CSUSM on top at 3-2.
 
Chico retook the lead in the sixth, scoring two runs on two outs. Casey Henderson drew a four-pitch walk and Luke Hussung singled to center field. Both runners scored on R.J. Hassey's single to left center.
 
CSUSM evened the game at 4-4 on Van Til's RBI single to shallow centerfield, scoring junior Domenic Antonacci who led off with a bouncing single up the middle.
 
After making a great defensive play to end the top of the seventh, Stinnett lined the first pitch he faced over the left field wall for a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the frame. The Cougars kept the momentum going, racking up four additional hits including RBI doubles by Mellano and Van Til as CSUSM batted around to take an 8-4 lead.
 
The Wildcats tacked on two more runs in the eighth and threatened in the ninth but Ott recorded a called strikeout to earn his second save of the season.
 
CSUSM starting pitcher Taylor Greene went 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits and struck out four for a no decision. Junior Brady Corson (1-1) picked up his first win after perfect 1.1 innings.
 
Wildcat reliever Anthony Baleto (1-1) took the loss after surrendering four runs on four hits in 0.1 innings on the hill.
 
The Cougars and Wildcats will play a doubleheader on Saturday, April 14 with the first pitch slated for noon.