TURLOCK, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team (18-32, 14-26 CCAA) closed its 2022 season with an 8-4 victory over Stanislaus State (15-31, 12-28 CCAA) to earn the series win on Saturday afternoon.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Aiden Richert – 2-for-4 | 2 R | 1 SB | 1 BB
Luke Reece – 2-for-5 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 1 2B
Kevin Van Linge – 2-for-5
Gabriel Ponce de Leon – 1-for-3 | 3 R | 1 BB | 1 HBP
Jacob Casson – 9.0 IP | 9 K | 4 ER | 6 H | 2 BB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Ponce de Leon was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a groundout, he scored on a two-out RBI single through the left side by Mark Stanford to give CSUSM an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
• The Warriors took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single to left center by Cole Thompson, an RBI sacrifice bunt to first by Ryan Leonesio and a two-run homer to left by Grant Bunker.
• CSUSM cut the deficit to two runs in the top of the third as Reece hit an RBI single through the left side to score Ponce de Leon and made it a 4-2 game.
• The Cougars tied the game at 4-all in the top of the fifth as they plated two runs on a Stan State fielding error in left field.
• CSUSM went ahead 5-4 in the top of the eighth as Ponce de Leon scored from third during a rundown between first and second.
• The Cougars put a three spot on the board in the top of the ninth with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch by Niko Diaz, a bases-loaded walk by Adam Chadwick and muffed throw that resulted in Diaz scoring after stealing third.
• Looking to earn his third complete game of the season, CSUSM starter Jacob Casson finished off the game with two groundouts to first and a fielder's choice to short to hand CSUSM the 8-4 victory and the series win.

 
QUICK HITS

• Casson (4-2) ended the game with nine strikeouts while allowing four earned runs on six hits and two walks.
• Stan State reliever Damian Vallejos (1-2) took the loss after allowing three earned runs on four hits in 1.0 inning.
• Van Linge upped his team-leading reached-base streak to 17 games while notching his team-leading 20th multi-hit game of the season.
• This was CSUSM's second series win against Stan State in the all-time series, moving CSUSM to a 9-9 tie in the series and a 6-5 lead when playing in Turlock.