SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team (27-13, 14-11 CCAA) began its final home series with a 12-8 win over Cal State LA (25-22, 15-14 CCAA) on Friday afternoon at Dennis A. Pugh Field.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Stephen Espinoza – 3-for-4 | 5 RBIs | 2 R | 1 HR | 1 BB
Zech Samayoa – 4-for-4 | 4 R | 3 RBIs | 1 HR | 1 2B | 1 BB | 1 SB
Jake Larson – 2-for-4 | 2 RBIs
Canon King – 1-for-2 | 3 R | 1 RBI | 1 3B | 2 BB | 1 HBP
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two-out solo homer down the left field line by Zech Samayoa, his 16th of the season.
• A bloop single into left by LA's Omar Gonzalez tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third.
• With Cougars on the corners and one out in the bottom of the third, Stephen Espinoza laid a squeeze bunt down the first base line and reached first safely while Canon King scored the go-ahead run to make it 2-1.
• CSUSM took a 7-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI ground-rule double by Samayoa, an RBI single through the right side by Christopher Tampoya, a two-run single up the middle by Jake Larson and a bases-loaded walk by King.
• The Golden Eagles responded by scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI fielder's choice by pinch-hitter Adam Axtell, a two-run single by Kadyn Victorian and a two-run double by Ben Lee to cut the deficit to 7-6.
• A two-run homer by Espinoza in the bottom of the sixth put the Cougars ahead 9-6.
• LA narrowed the gap again in the top of the seventh with a two-run homer to center by pinch-hitter Steven Mara, making it 9-8.
• CSUSM increased its lead again in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single to right Samayoa and a two-run single up the middle by Espinoza to make it 12-8.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter PJ Wendler (8-2) earned the win after striking out four while allowing six runs (three earned) on seven hits, three walks and a hit-by-pitch in 5.1 innings.
• LA starter Alejandro Huezo (5-5) took the loss after giving up seven earned runs on eight hits, five walks and two hit-by-pitches while striking out four in 5.0 innings.
• Head coach Jose Garcia is now one win shy of his 100th career victory.
• Samayoa is now two homers shy of the CSUSM record of 18 set by Austin Way in 2008, and at 52 RBIs for the year, he's four shy of tying Ray Patchen's 2015 record of 56.
• Christopher Tampoya improved his reached-base streak to 14 games.
• The Cougars' 27th win of the season matched their NCAA Division II record (2016-present) of 27 set in 2024.
• CSUSM's 17 home wins are the most in the program's Division II era and rank fourth all-time.
• The Cougars improved to 21-18 all-time against the Golden Eagles and are 12-5 when playing them at home.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will play LA in its final home doubleheader of the year on Saturday, with first pitch set for 11 a.m.