SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos baseball team (24-15, 23-11 CCAA) clinched its first-ever CCAA Tournament berth as it swept its final home doubleheader of the season against San Francisco State (23-18, 17-14 CCAA) by scores of 10-4 and 8-4 to win the series on Saturday at CSUSM Baseball Field.
 
GAME 1: CSUSM 10 - SF STATE 6
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Victor Castaneda – 2-for-2 | 3 RBIs | 2 RBIs | 1 HR | 1 BB | 1 HBP
Sean McGrew – 2-for-2 | 2 R | 1 RBI | 1 2B | 1 SAC | 1 HBP
Garrett Teunissen – 1-for-5 | 2 RBIs
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars struck first with four runs in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI double to left by Chesterton, an RBI single through the right side by McGrew, an RBI sacrifice bunt by Luna and a Gator fielding error that allowed McGrew to score from second.
• An RBI single up the middle by Daniel Santos put the Gators on the board at 4-1 in the top of the third.
• SF State cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the fourth with a bases-loaded walk by Derek LaFerriere and a sac fly to center by Justin Johnson.
• CSUSM went up 8-3 in the bottom of the fourth thanks to Sommay getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, a two-run single through the right side by Teunissen and an SF State throwing error that scored Sommay.
• A two-run blast to dead center by Castaneda in the bottom of the eighth gave the Cougars a 10-3 lead.
• The Gators put up a last stand in the top of the ninth with three runs coming from a sac fly to center by Matt Sugden and a pair of RBI singles by Anthony Alvarez and Andrew Silva to make it 10-6.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM reliever Nolan Long (3-1) earned the win after striking out seven and allowing three runs on four hits and two hit-by-pitches in 5.1 innings.
• SF State starter Nathan Shinn (2-6) took the loss after allowing eight runs (six earned) on seven hits, two walks and three hit-by-pitches while striking out two in 5.2 innings.
• Phoenix Sommay extended his reached-base streak to 34 games.

 
 
GAME 2: CSUSM 8 - SF STATE 4 (7 Inn.)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Luke Reece – 1-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 HR
Ethan Rivera – 2-for-3 | 1 R
Jordan Ku – 1-for-1 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 2B
Phoenix Sommay – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 1 2B | 1 SAC
Garrett Teunissen – 1-for-4 | 1 RBI | 1 SB
Victor Castaneda – 1-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 1 SAC
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• SF State began the game with a 1-0 lead on an RBI fielder's choice by Derek LaFerriere.
• CSUSM put a five spot on the board in the bottom of the second inning with an RBI single by Castaneda, a two-run double by Ku, an RBI double by Sommay and an RBI single by Teunissen.
• A two-run homer to left by Reece put CSUSM up 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
• A bases-loaded walk by Johnny Alvarez and a sacrifice fly by Kyle Olimpia cut the Gators' deficit to 7-3 in the top of the sixth.
• Bradley Chesterton scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the sixth to give the Cougars an 8-3 lead.
• SF State scored its final run in the top of the seventh on an RBI groundout by LaFerriere to make it 8-4.

 
QUICK HITS

• Cougar starter Spencer Anderson (2-1) earned the win after tossing five strikeouts while allowing one run on seven hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch in 4.2 innings.
• Gator starter Andrew Silva (2-2) took the loss after allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out one in 3.0 innings.
• Preston Kelly earned his seventh save of the year after allowing an unearned run on no hits and a hit-by-pitch in 1.1 innings of work.
• CSUSM returned to first place in the CCAA standings and is now a half-game ahead of Cal State Monterey Bay.
• This was the Cougars' first-ever series win against the Gators.
• Sommay extended his reached-base streak to 34 games.
• Reece posted his team-leading 13th multi-RBI game.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will play its final home game of 2024 on Sunday as it concludes its series with San Francisco State at 11 a.m. Before the game at 10:40 a.m., the Cougars will honor this year's six seniors.