SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Powering the way with 14 hits, the Cal State San Marcos baseball team (11-16, 7-10 CCAA) began its series against No. 21 Cal State Monterey Bay (20-10, 15-6 CCAA) with a 13-9 win on Friday afternoon at CSUSM Baseball Field. TOP PERFORMERS Luke Reece – 3-for-5 | 4 R | 3 RBI | 1 2B Kevin Van Linge – 3-for-4 | 3 RBI | 1 R | 1 BB | 1 SB Mark Stanford – 1-for-3 | 3 RBI | 1 HR | 1 R | 1 BB | 1 HBP Demetrius Freeman – 2-for-3 | 2 BB | 1 RBI | 1 R Zack Berohn – 2-for-4 | 2 R | 1 RBI | 1 HBP Ethan Rivera – 2-for-5 | 2 R | 1 RBI HOW IT HAPPENED CSUSM got out to a hot start with a four-run first inning. Van Linge began the scoring with a two-run single to center before Stanford tallied two RBIs with an inside-the-park home run to right field. The Cougars made it 5-0 in the bottom of the third as Freeman drew a bases-loaded walk. CSUSM went up 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth as Reece scored on an RBI groundout to second by Rivera. The Otters woke up in the top of the sixth inning and knotted the game at 6-all with a solo shot to right, an RBI double to left, a two-run single to center and a two-run homer to right center. The tie didn’t last long as the Cougars put a five spot on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning. Reece began the scoring with a two-run double and was followed by an RBI bunt single by Berohn, a bases-loaded walk by Stanford and a sacrifice fly to left by Griffin Teisher to give CSUSM an 11-6 lead. The Cougars scored their final two runs in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single to left by Reece and an RBI single to right by Van Linge. Down 13-6, the Otters tried to make it interesting in the top of the ninth with a two-run single up the middle by Brady Miguel and an RBI groundout by Jacob Martin. However, a groundout to second following CSUMB’s final run ended the game. QUICK HITS In 3.0 innings of relief, CSUSM’s Pat MacDonald Jr. (1-2) earned the win as he threw two strikeouts while allowing one run on two hits. Otter starter Ethan McRae (4-1) took his first loss of the season as he allowed 11 runs (10 earned) on 12 hits, two walks and two hit-by-pitches while striking out.
