SAN MARCOS -- Cal State LA's baseball team came up short in its California Collegiate Athletic Association opener Friday at Cal State San Marcos.
The Golden Eagles pushed across a run in the top of the ninth to take the lead, but Cal State San Marcos scored twice in the bottom of the ninth and posted a 3-2 victory at CSUSM Baseball Field. Cal State LA (1-11, 0-1 CCAA) collected 10 hits in the game, but didn't have any extra base hits and managed only single runs in the second and ninth innings.
Ralph Ramirez had another strong start and allowed only four hits and one run through seven innings. He walked two and struck out two.
Gabriel Gentner pitched a scoreless eighth inning and
Ryan Dixon was touched for two hits and one earned run in the ninth.
Jordan Kunz got the final out of the eighth inning and picked up the win for the Cougars (9-4, 1-0 CCAA).
Garrett Dean and
Paul Martinez had two hits each for the Golden Eagles, while
Isaac Dominguez had the lone RBI. Martinez and pinch runner
Jordan Cavazos scored runs for Cal State LA.
Colin Dvorak went 3-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI for Cal State San Marcos.
The Golden Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the second when Dominguez singled down the right-field line with two outs to drive in Dominguez.
Ramirez didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning when the Cougars tied the game. Jon Putnam was hit by a pitch with one out, took second on a groundout and scored on Dvorak's two-out single up the middle.
The game stayed tied until the top of the ninth when the Golden Eagles took the lead. Martinez led off with a single and Cavazos ran for him. He took second on a sacrifice bunt by
Trevor Meleski and Dominguez drew a two-out walk. The runners advanced on a balk and Cavazos scored when
Nathan Navarrete reached on an error.
The Cougars, though, got a leadoff walk from Putnam, who took second on a wild pitch. He moved to third on a sacrifice and scored the tying run on Dvorak's single. Ross Lemmel doubled to left and Dvorak scored the winning run moments later on a passed ball.
Cal State LA will return to action with a single game on Saturday at Cal State San Marcos at 2 p.m. The series will conclude with a doubleheader at Reeder Field beginning at 11 a.m.
