LA MIRADA, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team (7-1) took the first game of its doubleheader at Biola (4-4) by a score of 11-8 to win the series before a 7-1 loss in the series finale on Saturday at Eagles Diamond.
 
GAME 1: CSUSM 11 – BIOLA 8
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Victor Castaneda – 2-for-3 | 3 RBIs | 2 R | 1 HR | 1 2B
Michael Weber – 3-for-5 | 2 RBIs | 2 R | 1 HR | 1 2B
Zech Samayoa – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 2 2B | 1 BB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Biola struck first with a solo home run down the left field line by Nick Madole in the top of the second inning to go up 1-0.
• CSUSM broke the game open in the fifth as Zech Samayoa doubled to start the rally, followed by an RBI single from Max Shor and a two-run home run by Michael Weber to jump ahead 3-1. Victor Castaneda doubled in a run, Micael Ryan added an RBI double and Samayoa delivered a two-run double to complete the seven-run frame and give CSUSM a 7-1 lead.
• Castaneda extended the advantage in the sixth with a two-run homer to right field, pushing the margin to 9-1.
• Biola responded with a three-run bottom of the sixth and added two more in the seventh to trim the deficit to 9-6.
• CSUSM added insurance in the eighth when Rees Kent scored on an error followed by an RBI groundout from Stephen Espinoza to make it 11-6.
• Biola plated two runs in the eighth, but Jack Clark shut the door in the ninth, stranding a runner on second to seal the win and earn his first save of the year.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Luke Higgins (1-0) earned the win as he struck out three while allowing one earned run on four walks, three hits and a hit-by-pitch in 5.0 innings.
• Biola starter Blake Wentz (0-1) took the loss as he allowed four earned runs on three hits and two hit-by-pitches while striking out four in 4.1 innings.
• Clark tossed a career-high five strikeouts in his relief outing.
• Biola left 14 runners on base while CSUSM stranded only four.
• CSUSM tallied a season-high six doubles
• This was CSUSM's first-ever 7-0 start to a season.
• The Cougars picked up the series win against the Eagles with the victory and moved to 18-15 all-time against Biola.

 
GAME 2: CSUSM 1 – BIOLA 7 (7 INN.)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Victor Castaneda – 2-for-3 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 1 HR | 1 SB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Castaneda wasted no time, launching a leadoff homer to right center in the top of the first to give CSUSM an early 1-0 lead.
• The Eagles tied the game in the third after an infield error extended the inning, followed by an Ashton Pass RBI single to left.
• Biola seized momentum in the fourth with a three-run home run to center by James Whitman, followed by a solo shot from Jonny Tewinkle to take a 5-1 lead.
• In the fifth, Biola capitalized on a wild pitch that scored Kevin Villegas and a fielder's-choice RBI by Whitman to extend the margin to 7-1.

QUICK HITS

• Eagle reliever Aidan Cube (1-1) picked up the win after striking out seven while allowing a hit, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in 4.0 innings.
• Cougar starter Ben Pernetti was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, four walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out six in 3.1 innings.
• The Cougars struck out a season-high 12 times offensively.

UP NEXT
CSUSM will return to action on Friday, Feb. 20, as it begins a three-game non-conference series at Cal State LA at 3 p.m.