Cal State-San Marcos and Azusa Pacific split a Cougars vs. Cougars matchup at APU's Cougar Baseball Field.
First game: CSUSM started with five runs in the top of the first inning, on an RBI single by 3B Austin Coleman, a two-RBI double by 2B Michael Meccuci, and a two-RBI single by 1B Kenny Belzer.
APU starter Ben Ruder was replaced by Zachary Hedges in the second inning. He was greeted with an RBI single by LF Anthony Renteria, son of Rick Renteria, who played 184 games with the Pirates, Mariners, and Marlins, and is currently the bench coach for the Padres. Hedges ended up going 6 2/3 innings, and didn't allow another earned run the rest of the way. This made an impressive comeback by APU possible. CF Matt Kimmel got it started. He drew a leadoff walk, stole second and third, and scored on a single by SS Anthony Rodriguez. The second run of the inning was scored by 3B Brendan Casey on a wild pitch; Casey originally got on base with a walk. APU officially got back in the game with two runs in the fourth on an RBI ground out by C Matt Page and an RBI single by 2B Sammy Soyring. This made the score 6-4.
CSUSM got their final run of the game in the top of the fifth on an RBI ground out by Meccuci. APU answered with a sacrifice fly by Kimmel. CSUSM starter James Dykstra was relieved by Shawn Sanford, and he was greeted with an RBI double by Soyring, making it a one-run ball game.
Things started getting really interesting in the bottom of the seventh. DH Johnathan Erb led off with a single, and he was immediately picked off by Sanford. A walk and a single set up an RBI single by Casey, tying the game 7-7. Sanford was replaced by Kevin Hilton, who got a fly out, then walked a batter to load the bases with two out. Soyring hit a ground ball that should have scored at least one run. Instead, 2B Meccuci made a spectacular diving catch, and flipped it to SS Jeremy Baum for the force at second, getting CSUSM out of the inning with the game still tied. CSUSM got another good defensive play to get out of the seventh inning. This time it was by 1B Kenny Belzer, who fielded a high ground ball for the third out with the go-ahead run on third.
CSUSM brought in Scott Myers to pitch in the ninth inning. He threw only four pitches; the fourth one was a walk-off home run by Casey to right field.
Colby Gurney, who pitched a three-up three-down ninth inning, got the win. Casey was 2-for-3 with two RBI for the game, and 1B Jordan Leyland and RF Brent Warren went 3-for-5. Baum went 2-for-4 for CSUSM. Both teams had 14 hits.
Second game: This time it was APU that got the early lead, going ahead 6-2 after three innings. A four-run third inning started with a run being walked in when 2B Ryan Henley was hit by a pitch. Another run scored on a bunt single by SS Anthony Rodriguez, then CF Matt Kimmel hit a two-RBI double, chasing CSUSM starter Frank Charlton.
APU didn't get another run until the bottom of the ninth. They left the bases loaded in the sixth. CSUSM ended up using six pitchers, and Andrew Larson, who pitched the final three innings, was very sharp. CSUSM's comeback started with a two-run home run by CF Kyle Secciani in the fourth. They took a 7-6 lead in the seventh when LF Anthony Renteria scored on a ground out by 2B Michael Meccuci, followed by a two-run home run by 1B Kenny Belzer. A scoring chance for APU in the bottom of the seventh ended when courtesy runner Joseph Daris was picked off by Larson.
The winning run came in the top of the eighth on a two-RBI triple by Renteria. Larson started the bottom of the ninth with a strikeout, and probably should have struck out 3B Danny Gonzales, but Gonzales ended up hitting a single, and the next batter, C Matt Page, hit a double. 2B Sammy Soyring hit a sacrifice fly to score Gonzales, but Larson struck out the next batter to end the game.
Shawn Sanford, who recorded one out in the bottom of the sixth, got the win. Larson got a save; he allowed three hits, didn't walk a batter, and struck out four of the twelve batters he faced. SS Jeremy Baum went 2-for-2 for CSUSM, and Secciani went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Jason Plowman got the loss for APU. Kimmel went 3-for-5.
Story from Cal State-San Marcos site
Story from Azusa Pacific site
APU has a “character” ballpark, and it reminds me of an old-time minor league ballpark. The outfield is uneven, and the press box is over the first-base dugout. The dimensions are 305' down the first base line, 320' down the third base line, and 410' in a near-rectangular center field. There are signs that say “park at your own risk”, and, indeed, several cars were bonked, including a Ford Bronco during the third inning of the second game.
CSUSM's application for NCAA Division II has not been approved yet, and they will be remain in the NAIA for the 2013 season.
