[Game 1 Box score] [Game 2 box score]
SAN MARCOS - Justin Hertzmann earned two innings saves in each game of a doubleheader to help Cal State San Marcos win pair of one-run decisions over the Point Loma baseball team, at 8-7 and 5-4, in a non-conference matchup on Saturday (Mar. 23).
The Cougars have now won seven straight games to improve to 22-2 on the season. PLNU drops to 12-15 with the losses.
Game 1
Point Loma spotted the Cougars seven runs before fighting back late to lose by just one run, at 8-7 in the opener.
Cal State San Marcos scored three in the first and four more in the third to take the early 7-0 lead. They would add the eventual game-winning run on a solo home run by Kenny Belzer in the seventh. PLNU would chip away at the lead with three in the sixth, and two apiece in the seventh and eighth. The Sea Lions would also get the tying run on base in the ninth but could not get the game-tying hit.
Kyle Kuck went 2-for-3 with four runs batted in for the Cougars. Belzer had two hits to go along with his three runs scored.
Bryan Burkhead and
Kyle Cameron each recorded a multi-hit game for the Sea Lions. Cameron was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Burkhead had a double to go along with two runs scored.
Steve Messner earned the win to improve to 4-1. He did not give up a run on the first five innings before getting tagged for three runs in the six. He finished the game with four hits, three runs and six walks allowed in six innings pitched. Justin Hertzmann earned his third save of the season by going the final two innings without allowing a hit or a run.
Justin Lawrence (3-3) took the loss for PLNU after being charged with seven runs (six earned) over six innings pitched.
Game 2
Brandon Bentson had two hits and two RBI, including a go-ahead single in the fifth, to lead Cal State San Marcos to a 5-4 win in the final game of the three-game series.
PLNU grabbed the early lead as
Mike Marcoux homered to open the game, and
Tyler Nordgren singled in
Trey Hunt later in the inning. CSUSM would tie the game with single runs in the first and second innings.
PLNU would retake the lead with a two-run third. Marcoux,
Tyler Hanzawa and
Trey Hunt had consecutive singles to start the inning, then
Bryan Burkhead knocked in a run on a sacrifice fly and Nordgren added his second RBI of the game with a single through the right side.
The Cougars would cut the lead in half with a run in the third as Point Loma took a one-run lead into the fifth. With one out Tyler Bernard singled and then Kenny Belzer doubled him in from first base to tie the game at 4-4. Belzer would then come in to score from second as Bentson singled him in.
Kyle Kuck (1-0), who had four RBI in the opening game, earned the win in relief for the Cougars. After CSUSM had taken the lead, Addison Domingo came into the game in relief and walked the leadoff hitter, and the Cougars went right to the bullpen for Hertzmann who got the final six outs without yielding a run for his second save of the day, and fourth of the season.
Mickey Dunleavy took the loss after giving up 10 hits and five runs in 4.1 innings pitched.
Marcoux, Hanzawa, Hunt and Nordgren each had two hits for the Sea Lions. Bernard had three singles to lead the Cougars.
Next games
PLNU will now return home to host Hawaii Pacific in a four-game series starting on Friday, Mar. 29, at Noon.
