SAN MARCOS, Calif. – In its final non-conference games of the season, the Cal State San Marcos baseball team (4-6) split Sunday's doubleheader against La Sierra (4-3). The Cougars fell 6-4 in the first game before capturing an 18-3 win in the second game.
 
GAME 1: CSUSM 4 – LA SIERRA 6
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Kevin Van Linge – 3-for-4 | 2 R | 1 HBP
Pat MacDonald Jr. – 1-for-5 | 2 RBI | 1 2B
Ethan Rivera – 1-for-4 | 2 RBI | 1 2B | 1 BB
Trevor Schott – 1 IP | 3 K
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• La Sierra got the scoring started in the top of the fourth with a solo shot by Jason Larson and a two-run blast to left center by Jacob Villegas to go up 3-0.
• CSUSM trimmed the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the inning as Rivera hit a two-run double to right center to score Van Linge and Gabriel Ponce de Leon.
• In the top of the seventh with two outs, LSU's Alex Ogletree hit a solo homer to center to make it 4-2. After a triple by Abel Plascencia, Daniel Rosell hit an RBI single to right to make it 5-2. After Rosell stole second, he scored on an RBI single up the middle by David Adalian Jr. to go up 6-2.
• The Cougars plated their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh. With two on and two out, MacDonald Jr. hit a two-run double down the right field line to cut the deficit to 6-4.
• Looking to mount a come-from-behind win in the bottom of the ninth, CSUSM flied out to right, singled, flied out to left and lined out to short to end the game.

 
 
QUICK HITS

• La Sierra reliever Jacob Bretsch (1-0) took the win after throwing 4.1 innings with three strikeouts while allowing two earned runs on five hits and three hit-by-pitches.
• CSUSM starter Christian Becerra (0-2) had the loss after allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out four in 3.2 innings.
• Cougar reliever Nolan Long picked up eight strikeouts in 3.0 innings while allowing three runs on three hits and two walks.
• This was just the fifth loss to La Sierra out of 42 games played and first since 2013 while snapping a winning streak of 19 games.
• MacDonald up his reached-base streak to six games.
• Behind the plate, Rivera mowed down four La Sierra runners trying to steal, tying the single-game record at CSUSM set by Rich Montanez in 2014.
• CSUSM's pitching staff recorded 17 strikeouts to tie for the most in program history. It was the Cougars' most strikeouts in a game since facing Sioux Falls in 2012 ­– a team coached by current CSUSM head coach Matt Guiliano.

 
GAME 2: CSUSM 18 – LA SIERRA 3
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Luke Reece – 4-for-5 | 4 R | 3 RBIs | 1 3B
Kevin Van Linge – 2-for-2 | 3 RBIs | 2 R | 1 3B | 1 SB | 1 HBP
Jesus Lopez – 2-for-5 | 2 RBIs | 2 R
Niko Diaz – 1-for-1 | 3 R | 2 BB | 1 RBI
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• LSU struck first in the top of the first as Adalian Jr. scored on an RBI groundout by Jason Larson.
• CSUSM set its bats ablaze in the bottom of the first with 10 runs on six hits while leaving only one on base.
• The Cougars went up 13-1 in the bottom of the third on a two-run triple to right center by Van Linge before an RBI groundout to short by Rivera.
• La Sierra made it a 13-3 game in the top of the fifth with an RBI triple to right by Abel Plascencia and a sacrifice fly to right field by Nomar Briones.
• The Cougars went up by 12 once again in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run single to right by Ricky Maytorena that score Adam Chadwick and Lopez.
• CSUSM tacked on the final three runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth with an RBI triple by Emilio Luna and a two-run homer to left by Zack Berohn.
• The Cougars finished the game in the top of the seventh. After back-to-back singles to lead off the inning, La Sierra struck out and lined into a double play at first to end the game.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Conner Gleissner (2-1) picked up the win after throwing 5.0 innings with five strikeouts while allowing three earned runs on four hits.
• La Sierra starter Andres Altamirano (0-1) took the loss after failing to record an out while giving up three runs on three hits.
• CSUSM's three triples tied for the third most in program history.
• The Cougars are now 38-5 in the all-time series against the Golden Eagles and are 30-5 at home.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will begin CCAA play next weekend by hosting Cal State LA in a four-game series. The series opener is set for Friday at 2 p.m.