In the opener, CSUSM senior backstop Kody Sepulveda led off the second inning with a double and Marcus Maraz drew a four-pitch walk from USF southpaw Noah Coleman. After a fielder's choice, a base hit to right field by Dylan Costello put ducks on the pond for U.S. Naval Academy transfer Mike Guadagnini. The former freshman NCAA All-American sacrificed home Maraz. A wild pitch moved the runners up for Kyle Secciani, formerly of UC Riverside, who notched a two RBI line drive single to center to give CSUSM the 3-0 lead.

USF got back within striking distance in the next inning. Junior catcher Dylan Dwyer got things going with a lead-off single and Noah Durkin followed with a one-out walk. Zach Ireland's fly out put two outs on the board before the Cougars scored two runs on back-to-back errors by CSUSM's third baseman and leftfielder to trim the margin to 3-2.Corey Vasquez found himself on second base after the miscues and Cal State San Marcos elected to intentionally walk Cougar designated hitter Keith Cutler, but CSUSM starter Kevin Hilton got out of the jam by striking out Jeremy Varner to end the inning.  

Coleman got into trouble to start the third frame when he issued a lead-off walk to Kenny Belzer and freshman Brandon Bentson then blasted a single to deep center. Sepulveda advanced the runners via a sacrifice but Coleman would get out off the inning unscathed with back-to-back strikeouts.  

CSUSM tacked on two more runs in the fourth inning. Guadagnini doubled with one out and scored on a two-out triple by Tyler Bernard, who was brought home with Belzer's base hit to left field.

Jon Putnam's bases-loaded walk in the seventh made it a 6-2 ball game. Varner's eight inning RBI single provided the final margin.

Coleman (1-2) was saddled with the loss for the Cougars. He worked seven innings and allowed six runs on twelve hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. He handed the ball off to senior Damian Kardas, who notched a strikeout in one inning of scoreless relief.

Five different Cougars accounted for USF's five hits, with Varner posting an RBI. Durkin, Cutler and Dwyer each scored a run. USF struck out four times and earned three total walks.

The roles were reversed in the nightcap with the Cougars scoring early and often to cruise to the 9-0, seven-inning victory.

USF loaded the bases without putting a ball in play in the top of the first when Vasquez and Cutler drew consecutive one-out walks before Kardas was hit by a pitch. Varner delivered a bunt single to score Vasquez and give the Cougars' their first lead of the day. CSUSM pitcher Steve Messner retired the next two Cougars to limit the damage.

The CSUSM Cougars went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first and after Michael Vine earned a lead-off free pass in the second, he was plated with Durkin's sacrifice fly. Vasquez singled home pinch runner Ryan Fobes to push USF's lead to 3-0.

USF blew the game open with a four-run fourth inning.  Eight Cougars made a trip to the plate in the frame, where they tallied the four spot off of consecutive RBI base hits by Varner and Zach Ireland.  RBI singles from Fobes and Cutler in the seventh inning capped the scoring and gave USF the 9-0 shutout win.

Junior college transfer Henry Ojeda (1-1) was lights out on the hill for USF. The California native scattered five hits and finished with three strikeouts to one walk in the complete game win, his first victory as a Cougar.

Varner led the Cougars at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Durkin, Vasquez and Cutler were slotted at the top of the batting order and finished a combined 4-for-10 with three RBI and three runs scored. USF had nine hits in the game and tallied a season-best 16 quality at bats. 

USF is back in action tomorrow at No. 11 (NAIA) Concordia University-Irvine (18-9). First pitch is slated for 2:30 p.m. (PT.