SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team (13-2) took both games of its doubleheader against Simpson University (10-17) by scores of 15-8 and 11-3 to earn a four-game series sweep on Friday at Dennis A. Pugh Field.
 
GAME 1: CSUSM 15 - SIMPSON 8
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Leighton Helfrick – 4-for-5 | 3 RBIs | 1 R | 1 2B
Michael Weber – 2-for-5 | 3 RBIs | 2 R | 1 2B
Christopher Tampoya – 3-for-4 | 2 R | 1 RBI
Rees Kent – 1-for-5 | 2 RBIs | 2 R
Jacob Embleton – 2-for-5 | 1 RBI | 1 R
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Red Hawks jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a solo shot by Owen Hayes in the top of the first.
• The Cougars responded in the bottom of the second with a five-run inning on a Red Hawk error at third, a two-run double to center by Michael Weber, an RBI double by Mikey Gray and an RBI bunt single by Leighton Helfrick to go up 5-1.
• Simpson cut the deficit to 5-2 in the top of the fourth with an RBI double down the left field line by Duke Aloy.
• An RBI double down the left field line by Simpson's Eric Mora in the top of the sixth tied the game at 5-all.
• CSUSM put the game out of reach in the bottom of the seventh with a 10-run inning featuring a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Michael Ryan, a bases-loaded walk to Canon King, an RBI single by Christopher Tampoya, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Max Shor, a two-run single by Reese Kent, an RBI single by Michael Weber, an RBI single by Jacob Embleton and a two-run double by Leighton Helfrick.
• The Red Hawks plated three runs in the ninth on an RBI groundout, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly, but CSUSM ended the game with a 15-8 win.

 
QUICK HITS

• Cougar reliever Trevor Morgan (2-0) earned the win after allowing just a hit and a walk while earning a strikeout in 2.0 innings.
• Red Hawk starter Daniel Aceto (2-3) took the loss after allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on eight hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out three.
• Helfrick's four hits were the most by a Cougar in a single game this season.
• Michael Ryan improved his reached-base streak to a team-best 10 games.
• With the win, CSUSM tallied its third series win of the season.

 
GAME 2: CSUSM 11 - SIMPSON 3 (7 INN.)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Christopher Tampoya – 1-for-4 | 3 RBIs | 1 R | 1 HR
Michael Ryan – 2-for-4 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 1 2B
Victor Castaneda – 1-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 1 R
Zech Samayoa – 2-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 R  | 2 2B
Jake Larson – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 HR
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM opened the scoring in the bottom of the third with a five-run inning on an RBI double by Zech Samayoa, a two-run single by Victor Castaneda, an RBI double by Ben Pernetti and an RBI single from Jake Larson.
• Simpson cut the deficit to 5-1 in the top of the fourth on an RBI single from Cesar Ortega.
• A Michael Ryan RBI double in the bottom of the fourth made it 6-1.
• The Red Hawks made it a 6-2 game in the top of the fifth with a sacrifice fly from Cayden Lee.
• The Cougars tallied their second five-run inning of the game in the bottom of the sixth on solo shots by Larson and Blake Browning and a three-run homer by Christopher Tampoya to make it 11-2.
• Simpson scored the game's final run in the top of the seventh, scoring a run on an outfield error to make it an 11-3 game.

 
QUICK HITS

• In his first collegiate start, Jack Clark (2-0) picked up the win for CSUSM after striking out six while allowing one earned run on a hit and two walks in 4.0 innings.
• Starter Bo Vallado (0-2) took the loss for Simpson after giving up six earned runs on seven hits and three walks while striking out one in 4.0 innings.
• This was CSUSM's second sweep of a four-game series this season.
• The Cougars moved to a perfect 11-0 at home.
• CSUSM is now 5-0 in the all-time series against Simpson.
• Michael Ryan improved his reached-base streak to a team-best 11 games.
• Wrapping up non-conference play at 13-2, CSUSM continued its best start to a season in program history.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will begin CCAA play next week as it hosts Cal State San Bernardino for a four-game series beginning on Friday, March 13 at 3 p.m. at Dennis A. Pugh Field.