SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Playing its first doubleheader of the year, the Cal State San Marcos baseball team (3-0) earned the series win as it won both games against Colorado School of Mines (0-3) on Saturday at Dennis A. Pugh Field. The Cougars earned a 14-7 victory in the first game before taking the series with a come-from-behind 6-5 walk-off win in the nightcap.

GAME 1: CSUSM 14 – MINES 7
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Mikey Gray – 2-for-4 | 2 R | 4 RBIs | 1 2B
Jacob Embleton – 2-for-4 | 1 R | 2 H | 3 RBIs | 1 BB
Christopher Tampoya – 1-for-2 | 2 R | 1 RBI | 1 2B | 2 BB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Mines struck first with a run in the top of the first on an RBI single from Evan Bilter for a 1-0 lead.
• CSUSM responded immediately in the second inning with four runs, highlighted by Mikey Gray's two-run single, an RBI single by Jacob Embleton and a run-scoring groundout by Leighton Helfrick to go up 4-1.
• The Cougars added two more in the third following a double by Christoper Tampoya and another RBI single from Embleton, extending the lead to 6-1.
• Mines produced two runs in the fourth on a single through the left side by Tyler Pina to make it 6-3.
• CSUSM broke the game open in the sixth, taking advantage of walks, hit batters and miscues before Gray doubled in two runs as part of a five-run frame that pushed the lead to 11-3.
• In the seventh, Canon King drove in a run on a fielder's choice to extend the advantage to 12-3.
• Mines added two unearned runs in the eighth, but the Cougars countered with two runs of their own after a fielding error to make it 14-5.
• Mines closed with a two-run homer in the ninth, but a strikeout, foul out and grounder to first concluded the game at 14-7.
   

QUICK HITS

• PJ Wendler (1-0) earned his first win as a Cougar after striking out four and allowing three earned runs on two hits, two walk and a hit-by-pitch in 5.0 innings of work.
• Mines starter Alex Piscotty (0-1) took the loss after allowing six earned runs on five walks, three hits and a hit-by-pitch while striking out two in 2.1 innings.
• CSUSM scored 14 runs on seven hits while drawing 12 walks and being hit by 5 pitches.
• Mines recorded nine hits but allowed 12 walks and committed three errors.
• CSUSM turned three double plays defensively.

 
GAME 2: CSUSM 6 – MINES 5 (7 INN.)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Max Shor –1-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 BB
Stephen Espinoza – 1-for-2 | 2 RBIs | 1 BB
Leighton Helfrick – 2-for-4 | 1 R
Christopher Tampoya – 1-for-1 | 1 R | 1 RBI
Ben Pernetti – 6.0 IP | 6 K | 1 ER | 5 H | 2 BB

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The game opened with strong pitching on both sides as neither team scored through the first four innings.
• Mines struck first in the fifth inning with an RBI single to right center by Jackson Babcock to take a 1-0 lead.
• CSUSM tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Max Shor drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Jake Larson, making it 1-1.
• The Orediggers responded with a four-run seventh inning, including an RBI single by Babcock and a three-run homer to left field Evan Bilter to build a 5-1 advantage.
• The Cougars answered with a decisive five-run rally in the bottom half of the seventh, beginning with a double from Christopher Tampoya to score Leighton Helfrick and cut the deficit to 5-2.
• A wild pitch plated Michael Ryan to make it 5-3 before Espinoza delivered a two-run single to right-center to tie the game at 5-5.
• After Jake Callahan singled and stole second, Max Shor delivered the knockout blow with a walk-off bloop single to center and handed CSUSM the 6-5 win. 

QUICK HITS

• Cougar reliever Jack Clark (1-0) picked up the win, allowing two earned runs on two hits in a third of an inning.
• Orediggers reliever Dylan Burke (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing three hits and the game-winning run.
• CSUSM starter Ben Pernetti recorded six strikeouts, the most by a Cougar pitcher in the series to this point.
• This is CSUSM's first-ever series win against Mines.

 
UP NEXT
CSUSM will go for the four-game series sweep on Sunday, with first pitch set for noon at Dennis A. Pugh Field.