This Week in Cougar Athletics: Jan. 28-Feb. 3
1/28/2019 | Baseball
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – A busy weekend is ahead for Cal State San Marcos Athletics as baseball and softball open their 2019 seasons while men’s and women’s basketball host their homecoming games.
Baseball will host MSU Denver in a three-game series at CSUSM Baseball Field. Friday’s season opener will take place at 1 p.m. while Saturday’s game will get underway at noon. The series against the Roadrunners will wrap up on Sunday at 11 a.m.
Men’s and women’s basketball will face Stanislaus State on Saturday at The Sports Center. The women’s game will tip at 1 p.m. before the men take the court at 3 p.m.
Softball will open its season on the road at Biola on Saturday. Game times are set for noon and 2 p.m.
Check out CSUSM Homecoming Schedule of Events!
BASEBALL
Friday, Feb. 1 – 1 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 2 – 12 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 3 – 11 a.m.
CSUSM (0-0) vs. MSU Denver (0-0)
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Baseball Field
LIVE STATS | WATCH
SEASON OPENER AGAINST MSU DENVER •The Cougars and Roadrunners will face each other for the first time in program history.
•CSUSM was picked to finish 10th in the 2019 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Preseason Coaches Poll.
•Senior outfielder Austin Ott was named to the 2019 National Collegiate Baseball Writer’s Association’s (NCBWA) All-NCAA Division II West Region Preseason Team.
•CSUSM boasts 18 returners from last season’s squad and 12 newcomers.
•MSU Denver finished 22-28 last season and tied for fifth in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) with an 18-16 conference record.
•The Roadrunners were tied for fourth in the 2019 RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll.
•MSU Denver pitcher and outfielder Logan Stoole was named to the Preseason All-RMAC team.
THE GUILIANO FILE •Head coach Matt Guiliano enters his third season at the helm of the Cougars baseball program.
•Prior to making his way to San Marcos, Guiliano was the head coach for nine seasons (2008-16) at his alma mater Sioux Falls.
•Guiliano is a 2006 graduate of the University of Sioux Falls and a 2001 graduate of Valley Center High School.
•Guiliano is 37-66 (.359) as CSUSM’s head coach and is 212-299-1 (.415) for his entire head coaching career.
SOFTBALL
Saturday, Feb. 2 – Noon (DH)
CSUSM (0-0) at Biola (0-0)
Riverside, Calif. | Freedom Field
Live Stats | Watch
CSUSM •New head coach Stef Ewing will making her collegiate head coaching debut against Biola.
•The 2019 squad boasts 16 returners, five freshmen and one junior college transfer.
•In the 2019 CCAA softball preseason poll, the Cougars were picked to finish 12th.
BIOLA BREAKDOWN •CSUSM holds a 19-14 advantage in the all-time series record against Biola.
•The Eagles finished the 2018 season with a 33-19 overall record and 16-16 PacWest record.
•Four Eagles were named to the Preseason All-PacWest Team: Kayla Neff, Areana Ramos, Hailey Boyett and Paige Austin.
•Biola opens the season at Vanguard on Friday, Feb. 1.
•The Eagles were picked to finish second in the PacWest Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
THE EWING FILE •Head coach Stef Ewing enters her first season in charge of the Cougar softball season as the fourth head coach in program history.
•She previously served as the assistant coach at New Mexico State where she helped the Aggies to three WAC Regular Season Conference Championships and two WAC Conference Tournament Championships.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Saturday, Feb. 2 – 1 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (10-7, 7-6 CCAA) vs. Stanislaus State (5-13, 4-10 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
LIVE STATS | THE COUGAR SPORTS NETWORK
PREVIOUS WEEK •The Cougars dropped both games on the road this past week, falling 88-70 to Humboldt State on Thursday before dropping a 63-58 decision at Chico State on Saturday.
•Emma Forel notched her sixth double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds at Chico State.
•CSUSM ranks fourth in the CCAA in field goal percentage with a 41.6 average.
•Jon’Nae Vermillion remains No. 8 in points and rebounding in the CCAA, averaging 14.4 and 8.6 per game, respectively.
•Stephanie Custodio is also No. 8 in assists in the conference with a 3.6 average per game.
•With her three blocked shots at Chico, Akayla Hackson ranks No. 10 in the CCAA with 0.9 average.
•The Cougars are tied with San Francisco State for fifth in the CCAA standings.
STANISLAUS STATE UPDATE •Last week, the Warriors defeated Cal State Monterey Bay (70-51) before falling to Cal State East Bay (49-44).
•The Warriors lead the conference and are ranked No. 19 in the nation in steals at 11.05 per game.
•Kyanna Davis is Stan State’s leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.
•Stan State is 11th in the CCAA Standings, ahead of Cal State L.A. and Cal State Monterey Bay.
•The Cougars began their four-game, three-week road trip with a 69-65 victory at Stan State on Jan. 10.
THE JIMENEZ FILE •Head coach Renee Jimenez enters her fourth season in charge of the Cougar women’s basketball team, a program that is only in its eighth season of existence.
•In her eleven seasons coaching in the CCAA, Jimenez has compiled a 163-126 (.566) coaching record. She spent two seasons at Cal State San Bernardino after a five-year stint at Cal State Monterey Bay.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Saturday, Feb. 2 – 3 p.m.
CSUSM (5-14, 2-11 CCAA) vs. Stanislaus State (8-10, 5-9 CCAA)
San Marcos, Calif. – The Sports Center
LIVE STATS | WATCH
PREVIOUS WEEK •The Cougars scored a 91-72 victory against third-place Humboldt State last Thursday, and it was the Lumberjacks’ first home loss of the season.
•Dalton Soffer led the game with 23 points and was 5-of-8 from three and 6-of-6 from the foul line.
•CSUSM then suffered an 88-64 loss at Chico State on Saturday as the Wildcats made 18 3-point shots.
•Darae Elliot led the Cougars in points after posting 20 for the second consecutive game.
•JR Williams continues to lead the CCAA and ranks 12th nationally for total steals with 47.
•Khalil Fuller is still on top of the league’s rebounds per game list with 8.1.
HOMECOMING AGAINST STANISLAUS STATE •CSUSM is 5-1 in the all-time series against Stanislaus State and is 2-0 against the Warriors when playing in San Marcos.
•The Warriors earned an 82-60 win over the Cougars up in Turlock in early January.
•Stanislaus is 8-10 overall and sits 10th in the CCAA standings with a 5-9 record.
•Andy Cleaves leads the Warriors with 15.5 points per game for the year.
•The Warriors lost 69-62 in overtime to Cal State East Bay on Saturday after posting a 93-85 overtime win over Cal State Monterey Bay.
•Stanislaus ranks ninth in the league for scoring with 72.6 points per game, and its defense ranks 10th with 74.4 points allowed per game.
THE FOSTER FILE •Head coach B.J. Foster enters his third season in charge of the CSUSM Men’s Basketball program after taking over the head position in 2016.
•Under his leadership, the Cougars advanced to the CCAA Tournament for the first time in 2017-18 after finishing the season with a 15-7 conference record and a 20-9 overall record.
•Prior to becoming head coach of the Cougars, Foster was an assistant coach with the team from 2013 to 2016.
•Foster has tallied a career record of 43-33 (.566).
