CHICO, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team (9-14, 5-8 CCAA) fell 18-4 in the series opener at No. 18 Chico State (20-5, 13-3 CCAA) on Friday night at Nettleton Stadium.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Ethan Rivera – 2-for-3 | 3 RBIs | 1 R | 1 2B
Mark Stanford – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI | 1 2B
Luke Reece – 1-for-3 | 2 R
Emilio Luna – 1-for-3 | 1 R
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Reece singled with one out, Rivera brought him home with a two-out RBI double to left center and put CSUSM up 1-0 in the top of the first inning.
• Chico took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first with an RBI single to center by Jack Murphy before an RBI groundout to second by Grady Morgan.
• The Wildcats went up 8-1 in the bottom of the fourth with a six-run inning. Chico scored on a balk, an RBI single to center, a wild pitch, an RBI single through the left side and a two-run single through the right side.
• Chico didn't let off the gas as it put together a 10-run fifth on nine hits, a walk, a hit-by-pitch and two CSUSM errors to go up 18-1.
• In the top of the sixth after Luna reached on a single and Reece reached on a Chico throwing error, Rivera came through with a one-out, two-run double to center. With two outs, Stanford brought Rivera around to score with an RBI double to left center to wrap up the scoring at 18-4.

 
QUICK HITS

• Chico starter Ryan Tinsley (5-0) picked up the win as he threw 6.0 innings with two strikeouts while allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits.
• CSUSM starter Jacob Casson (1-1) took the loss as he allowed eight runs on 10 hits and a walk in 4.0 innings.
• Cougar reliever Zack Jordan pitched 3.2 scoreless innings to wrap up the game while striking out four. He allowed just three hits and one walk.
• The Wildcats' 21 hits were the most by a Cougar opponent this season.
• This was Rivera's team-leading 11th game with multiple hits and ninth game with multiple RBIs.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM and Chico will continue the series on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.