SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team (18-6, 5-4 CCAA) began its series against Stanislaus State (15-15, 6-7 CCAA) with a 13-4 win on Friday afternoon at Dennis A. Pugh Field.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Christopher Tampoya – 4-for-4 | 3 RBIs | 2 R | 1 SF | 1 SB
Leighton Helfrick – 2-for-4 | 3 RBIs | 1 R | 1 SF
Zech Samayoa – 3-for-5 | 2 RBIs | 2 R | 1 3B | 1 2B
Stephen Espinoza – 3-for-4 | 4 R | 1 RBI | 2 BB | 1 2B
Mikey Gray – 1-for-5 | 2 RBIs
Canon King – 2-for-4 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 2 BB
Michael Weber – 2-for-5 | 1 RBI
PJ Wendler – 6.0 IP | 6 K | 1 ER | 4 H | 3 BB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars got on the board in the bottom of the first inning on a bloop single to left by Christopher Tampoya and a two-run single up the middle by Leighton Helfrick to make it 3-0.
• CSUSM went up 4-0 in the bottom of the third as Michael Weber put a run across on a bases-loaded fielder's choice to short.
• The Cougars added on in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single up the middle by Mikey Gray to go up 5-0.
• Stanislaus put their first run across in the top of the sixth with a solo shot to left by Bradley Morris to cut the deficit to 5-1.
• An RBI triple by Zech Samayoa, a sacrifice fly to left by Christopher Tampoya and an RBI fielder's choice by Gray put CSUSM up 8-1 in the bottom of the sixth.
• The Warriors plated three runs in the top of the seventh with a two-run homer to left by Evan Fanconi and a sac fly to center by Chris Ortiz to make it an 8-4 game.
• CSUSM took a 12-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single through the left side by Stephen Espinoza, an RBI single by Samayoa, an RBI single to third by Tampoya and a sac fly to right by Leighton Helfrick.
• The Cougars added one more run in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single up the middle by Canon King to make it 13-4.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter PJ Wendler (6-0) earned the win after striking out six while allowing an earned run on four hits and three walks in 6.0 innings.
• Stanislaus starter Austin Balentine (5-3) took the loss after giving up five earned runs on 10 hits, four walks and a hit-by-pitch in 5.0 innings.
• The Cougars tied their season high for hits with 20.
• This was CSUSM's fifth consecutive win against Stanislaus dating back to 2024.
• Espinoza tallied his team-leading eighth multi-hit game.
• Samayoa posted his team-best eighth multi-RBI game.
• King improved his reached-base streak to 12 games and hitting streak to eight games.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM and Stanislaus will continue the series on Saturday with a noon doubleheader at Dennis A. Pugh Field.