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 two in 5.1 innings.
CSUSM’s batters were hit with a pitch a season-high four times.
Stanford extended his team-best hitting streak to 11 games while improving his reached-base streak to 12.
Rivera tallied his team-leading 13th multi-hit game.
This was CSUSM’s first-ever win at home against CSUMB in eight tries.
Dating back to 2019, the Cougars have won three of the last four games against the Otters.
This was CSUSM’s third win against a ranked opponent this season.
The Cougars’ 13 runs were the most ever against the Otters.
Head Coach Matt Guiliano discusses the Cougars’ hot bats in CSUSM’s series-opening win over No. 21 Cal State Monterey Bay. pic.twitter.com/UjyYNqLwmJ
— CSUSM Baseball (@CSUSMBaseball) April 2, 2022
UP NEXT
CSUSM will continue its series with the No. 21 Otters tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
