HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team (24-12, 11-10 CCAA) began its series at Cal State East Bay (19-20, 10-11 CCAA) with an 18-8 win on Friday afternoon at Pioneer Field.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Canon King – 3-for-5 | 5 RBIs | 2 R | 1 HR | 2 2B | 1 BB | 1 HBP
Zech Samayoa – 2-for-5 | 3 RBIs | 3 R | 1 2B | 1 BB
Stephen Espinoza – 2-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 BB | 1 SB | 1 HBP
Jake Larson – 2-for-4 | 3 R | 2 RBIs | 1 2B | 1 HBP
Jacob Embleton – 2-for-5 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 2B | 1 BB | 1 SB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars took an early 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI single through the right side by Stephen Espinoza to plate Zech Samayoa from second.
• After a CSUSM error to begin the bottom of the second, East Bay capitalized with a sac fly to right by Caleb Chance to knot the game at 1-1.
• The Pioneers took the lead at 4-1 in the bottom of the third on an RBI groundout by Logan Stelling, an RBI double by Christian Angulo and a sac fly to center by Chance.
• A seven-run inning propelled the Cougars to an 8-4 lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI fielder's choice by Jake Larson, a throwing error that scored Christopher Tampoya, an RBI single by Jacob Embleton, a bases-clearing double by Samayoa and an RBI single by Espinoza.
• An RBI double by Embleton in the top of the fifth put CSUSM up 9-4.
• The Cougars broke out for eight runs in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer by King, an RBI single by Leighton Helfrick, a bases-loaded walk by Michael Weber, a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Larson, a Pioneer error that scored Tampoya and a two-run ground-rule double by King to make it 17-4.
• King tallied his fifth RBI of the contest in the top of the ninth with a double to put CSUSM ahead 18-4.
• East Bay tried to get a two-out rally going in the bottom of the ninth following a CSUSM error as a bases-loaded wild pitch plated two runs before an RBI single by William James and a bases-loaded walk by Alex Merchant wrapped up the scoring to make it 18-8.

 
QUICK HITS

• Cougar starter PJ Wendler (7-2) earned the win after striking out three while allowing four runs (three earned) on 10 hits and a walk in 7.0 innings.
• Pioneer reliever David Howard (1-1) took the loss after giving up three earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.
• CSUSM took a one-game lead over CSUEB for fifth in the CCAA standings.
• Embleton, Samayoa and Helfrick each tallied their team-leading 12th multi-hit game while Samayoa had his team-best 13th multi-RBI game.
• The Cougars have now won five of the last six games against the Pioneers dating back to 2024.

 
UP NEXT
The Cougars and Pioneers will continue the series on Saturday with a noon doubleheader.