SAN MARCOS, Calif. – A big inning by Sonoma State (16-21, 13-15 CCAA) was the difference as the Cal State San Marcos baseball team (13-25, 9-19 CCAA) fell 14-7 in the series finale on Saturday at CSUSM Baseball Field.
TOP PERFORMERS
Aiden Richert – 2-for-4 | 3 RBIs | 1 2B | 1 SAC | 1 SB
Kevin Van Linge – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 SF | 1 HBP
Pat MacDonald Jr. – 3-for-5 | 1 R | 1 2B
Ethan Rivera – 2-for-4 | 3 R | 1 BB
Emilio Luna – 2-for-4 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 1 BB
HOW IT HAPPENED
CSUSM got the scoring started in the bottom of the second inning on a two-out RBI single by Luna and an RBI single up the middle by Griffin Teisher to put the Cougars up 2-0.
SSU tied the game in the top of the third inning with a one-out two-run double to left center by Josh Medina.
The Cougars retook the lead at 3-2 in the bottom of the third with a sac fly to center by Van Linge. Rivera scored all the way from second after the SSU catcher dropped the ball attempting to apply the tag at the plate.
The Seawolves knotted the game at 3-all in the top of the fifth on a bases-loaded sac fly to center by Medina that scored Lucas Townsend.
CSUSM went up 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth as Van Linge was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded followed by an RBI groundout to second by Richert.
SSU posted an eight-run inning in the top of the sixth to go up 11-5 on seven hits, one error, a walk and a hit-by-pitch.
Following a leadoff single by Josh Lopez in the top of the eighth, Cole Brodnansky hit a two-run blast to left center and put the Seawolves up 13-5.
A leadoff homer by SSU’s Otis Statum put the Seawolves ahead 14-5 in the top of the ninth.
After two walks and a single loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, Richert hit a ground-rule double over the left field wall to plate Stanford and Rivera. The Cougars then struck out twice and grounded out to first to end the game.
QUICK HITS
SSU reliever Niko Tejada (1-0) earned the win after allowing just two walks, one hit and one hit-by-pitch in 2.0 innings.
CSUSM reliever Zack Jordan (0-2) took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out two in 2.0 innings.
Luke Reece extended his hitting streak to 12 games – the longest by a Cougar this season.
Rivera tallied his 16th multi-hit game of the season and his 10th game with two hits.
UP NEXT
CSUSM will head to Cal Poly Pomona for a four-game series beginning on Friday at 6 p.m.
