SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team suffered an 8-5 loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills in the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon at CSUSM Baseball Field.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Luc Stuka – 3-for-4 | 1 R | 1 2B
Joseph Bahna – 2-for-4 | 2 RBI | 1 BB
Vinnie Alfino – 1-for-1 | 2 RBI
Johnathan Combs – 1-for-4 | 1 RBI
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars started the game with a 2-0 deficit as the Toros scored on an RBI ground out by Nick Henry and an RBI single up the middle by Angel Estrada in the top of the first.
• CSUSM cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the first as Combs hit an RBI single to right to score Andrew Garcia.
• CSUDH took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI double down the line by Edward Manzo that scored Jose Jimenez.
• With both starters still in the game in the top of the eighth inning, Jimenez hit an RBI single to right to put the Toros up 4-1. Cougar starter Jeremy Wiegman was then pulled after throwing 7.2 innings with a season-high seven strikeouts and 116 pitches while giving up four runs on seven hits, two walks, one hit-by-pitch and one wild pitch.
• After back-to-back walks to begin the top of the ninth, CSUDH's Pierson Loska ripped a three-run jack to left to put the Toros up 7-1. After a triple by Henry, Estrada hit a sacrifice fly into center to make it an 8-1 ballgame.
• CSUDH finally went to the bullpen to begin the bottom of the ninth as starter Dylan Steen exited the game with 8.0 innings pitched and five strikeouts on 99 pitches while allowing one run on six hits, a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
• With two outs and the bases juiced, Alfino came on to pinch hit and delivered a two-RBI single to left to score Stuka and Zach Schuberg.
• After Alifno's clutch at-bat, the Toros relieved Matt Garcia with Humberto Chiquito.
• Chiquito allowed Griffin Teisher to walk on four pitches to once again load the bases for the Cougars with two outs.
• Bahna came through with a 2-RBI single to right to cut the deficit to 8-5.
• With runners on the corners, the Cougars' late run came to an end as a popup to short concluded the game.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM falls to 2-6 (1-1 CCAA) while CSUDH improved to 2-6 (1-1 CCAA).
• Wiegman (1-2) took the loss while Steen (1-1) earned the win.
• Wiegman's outing was the longest by a Cougar pitcher this season in terms of innings pitched and pitches thrown.
• Teisher improved his reached-base streak to eight games while Combs and Bahna each moved their hitting streaks to six games.

 
UP NEXT
The even series will now head to Carson as the Cougars and Toros will round out the four-game set with a doubleheader on Sunday at noon.