SAN MARCOS—The members of the Chico State baseball team went to bed Friday night after a disappointing series-opening loss undoubtedly feeling some pressure. Saturday, they spent all day applying it.
 
The Wildcats got a runner on in 15 of 16 innings and the leadoff man on 11 times in a doubleheader sweep of host Cal State San Marcos. Chico State scored at least one run in 10 of 16 innings while racking up 25 hits, 12 bases on balls, and five hit-by-pitches, and twice reaching on errors in wins of 11-7 and 10-4.
 
With those wins, the two-time defending California Collegiate Athletic Association Champion Wildcats (23-16 overall and 19-14 in the CCAA) moved into a virtual tie for third place in the CCAA standings with Cal State LA. Both are three games behind first-place Cal State Monterey Bay and a game behind second-place UC San Diego.
 
Chico State's seventh hit of the day, Cameron Santos' line single to left-center leading off the fifth, was a special one. It marked the 200^th hit of the senior third baseman's career. He is the second Wildcat to reach that milestone, joining the program's all-time hit king, Jeff Walker, who finished his career with 226.
 
Kyle Blakeman reached base seven times Saturday and ripped a trio of doubles. Louie Canjura homered and drove in five. Alex DeVito went 4-for-9 with a home run, double, four RBI, and four runs scored. And Turner Olson logged a pair of two-hit games while scoring three times, driving in three runs, and swiping three bases.
 
Santos' 200^th hit turned into the go-ahead run in the opener and the Wildcats never looked back. After Santos stole second for his 64^th career steal (moving him six shy of the school record), DeVito drove him in with a single to left for a 4-3 lead.

 

Casey Henderson drew a leadoff walk in the sixth (one of five he coaxed Saturday after tying a school record with four on Friday) to set the table for a three-run inning. Canjura drove in the first run and then DeVito delivered the big blow with a bases-loaded two-run single to stretch the lead to 7-3.
 
Cal State San Marcos stormed back with a three-run homer in the bottom half of the inning, but the Wildcats stretched their lead to 8-6 on Canjura's RBI grounder in the seventh.
 
They tacked on three more runs in the eighth. DeVito led off with a double, and with two down and the bases packed with 'Cats, RJ Hassey hit a hard grounder that the third baseman misplayed for a two-run error. Henderson, who walked (of course) during the rally, scored on a passed ball to make it 11-6.
 
Starter Hilario Tovar (5-4) earned the win for Chico State, allowing three runs in five innings of work.
 
Anthony Baleto pitched the final three frames, allowing only one run, to collect his fourth save of the season. That gives him 11 saves in his career, which is tied for the 10^th most in Chico State history.
 
Blakeman and DeVito collected three hits apiece in the game. Blakeman, who doubled twice, reached base in all six of his plate appearances. Dustin Miller and Olson had two hits each.
 
Chico State scored at least once in each of the first four innings of the nightcap to build an 8-1 lead.
 
Canjura set the tone with a home run to center field in the top of the first.
 
Olson singled leading off the second, stole second, and scored on Hassey's sacrifice fly.
 
Santos singled leading off the third, DeVito was hit by a pitch, and both scored on Olson's two-run single for a 4-1 lead.
 
Hassey singled leading off the fourth, Blakeman doubled, and Canjura drove in the first two runs of the frame with a single up the middle. Santos greeted the third Cougars pitcher of the game with a base hit, and two batters later, Miller's two-run double ballooned the lead to 8-1.
 
Cal State San Marcos chipped away at the lead with a run in the fourth and two more in the fifth. But Jae Wagner came on in relief to close the door, retiring eight straight to end the game.

 
Chico State tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth on DeVito's solo home run and Brian Pozos' RBI single.
 
Chico State starter Casey Costello (4-2) earned the win, and with it, moved into second in school history in career winning percentage (.889) among those with at least 18 decisions. The senior is now 16-2 in a Chico State uniform. Those 16 wins are tied for 10^th in program history.
 
Hassey also moved onto a top 10 list. He was plunked three times, bringing his season total to 17. That is tied for ninth most in Chico State single-season history.
 
Wagner has now retired 12 hitters in a row and has not allowed a run in his last 13 and two-thirds innings of work, spanning seven appearances.
 
Canjura, Santos, and Olson had two hits apiece in the nightcap.
 
The series concludes with a single game Sunday at 11 a.m. The game will be broadcast locally on AM-1290 KPAY.