SAN MARCOS, Calif. - The Chico State baseball team and Cal State San Marcos split Saturday's doubleheader at Dennis A. Pugh Field, setting up a winner-take-all series finale on Sunday morning. The Wildcats got two big innings to run away to a 14-7 game one win while Cougars, down to their final strike, avoided the twinbill sweep by walking off in game two, 8-7, in eight innings.
Game 1: Chico State 14, Cal State San Marcos 7
The Wildcats set the tone early, scoring twice in the top of the first inning before exploding for a six-run third. Troy Kent's two-run single and RBI knocks from Michael Baker and Casey Vogan fueled the rally that put Chico State firmly in control. The Wildcats later piled on five more runs in the eighth, highlighted by a two-run single from Phoenix Casias and a pinch-hit RBI single from Jesse Gadd, sealing a dominant 14-7 win.
Rocco Borrelli (5-3) earned the victory after throwing five innings, while Tyce Ochs delivered a standout performance in relief, striking out five in 1.2 innings to help close out the game. Thade Miller scored three runs and Kent finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs to lead a 15-hit attack.
Game 2: Cal State San Marcos 8, Chico State 7 (8 Innings)
Game two unfolded as a much tighter battle. Chico State once again built an early lead, plating four runs in the third behind Michael Baker's two-run double and a sacrifice fly from Casias. Baker added another RBI double in the fifth, giving the Wildcats a 5-4 edge.
In the bottom of the sixth, with the tying run on base, Baker turned a crucial inning-ending double play at third to preserve Chico's lead and temporarily stall a San Marcos rally.
However, the Cougars mounted a late charge, scoring twice in the seventh to tie the game and plating two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, capped by a clutch two-run double from Victor Castaneda. Despite three-hit efforts from Miller and Baker, Chico State fell 8-7, with Aaron McCurley (1-1) taking the loss in relief.
The Wildcats (27-17, 20-15 CCAA) and Cougars (22-20, 17-16 CCAA) will meet for the pivotal series finale Sunday morning at 11 a.m.
