Starting pitcher Grant Larson limited Cal State San Marcos and its California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)-leading offense for five frames. But the Cougars broke containment in the sixth and went on to score 13 times over their final frames to hand the Wildcats a humbling 16-5 loss in Friday night's series opener at Nettleton Stadium.
 
Buoyed by Turner Olson's first-inning, two-run triple and his RBI single in the third, along with four early Cal State San Marcos errors, the Wildcats built a 4-1 lead.
 

Meanwhile, after a single to leadoff the game, Larson retired nine straight and 12 of the next 13 Cougars hitters. With his second strikeout of the night, which ended the top of the second—the 142^nd of his career—the lanky southpaw passed Brian Kroll (2003–04) and Ryan O'Shea (2011–13 and 2015) to move into sole possession of 10^th on the program's career strikeouts list.
 
Leadoff singles in the fifth and sixth turned into runs for the Cougars, who cut Chico State's lead to 4-3.
 
The Wildcats stranded a runner on second in the fifth and had a runner picked off of third base with runners on the corners and only one down, failing to add to their lead.
 
Then in the top of the seventh, the Cal State San Marcos offense secured control of the game. Following consecutive singles to start the frame, Larson attempted to get the runner at third on a sacrifice bunt, but his throw was late, loading the bases. A two-run single gave the Cougars the lead and marked the end of Larson's day. Three more runs would score in the frame.
 
The Wildcats got a run back in the eighth after Olson drew a leadoff walk, but Cal State San Marcos ran away with the game in the ninth, pounding a pair of Chico State relievers for eight runs on eight hits.
 
The series continues with a doubleheader Saturday at noon and will conclude with a single game Sunday at 11 a.m. Chico State's 1999 NCAA Championship team will be celebrated prior to Sunday's first pitch.