AZUSA, Calif. - The Cougars led for much of the afternoon, but the game got away in a 25-minute eighth inning as Cal State Monterey Bay rallied for a 12-7 victory at the Cougar Baseball Complex to salvage a split of the season-opening four-game series.
How It Happened: Azusa Pacific jumped out to a small lead just three batters into the game as Tido Robles drove in Cade Marshman on a groundball. Despite multiple chances to add to that lead, it would remain a 1-0 game until the fifth inning. With two on and one out, George Christison singled in Spencer Rasmussen to double the lead. Two batters later, catcher Carson Collett launched a ball over the fence near the 410 sign in center field, a three-run shot that increased the lead to 5-0, all while Tyler Herges was throwing zeros up on the scoreboard in his first collegiate start, striking out four and allowing just a single hit over the first five innings.
The Otters would get on the board in the sixth, scoring three runs with two outs thanks to a throwing error on what was nearly an inning-ending double play. The Cougars would claw a run back thanks to a passed ball with the bases loaded in the bottom half of the inning, but left the bases loaded for the second time in the game. The lead remained 6-3 and the Cougars had two outs in the top of the eighth with a runner on second, appearing to have control. But the Otters responded with nine consecutive batters reaching base, including a grand slam. In all, 13 batters came to the plate in the eighth for Monterey Bay, and by the time the damage was done, it was a 12-6 game. Marshman tucked a solo homer just inside the left field pole in the ninth to close the gap, but that was it.
By the Numbers: Herges allowed just three hits while striking out five in 5.2 innings in the start. Marshman had a three hit game in the leadoff spot. Casey O'Laughlin went 2-6 at the plate, bringing his week to 8-19 with 5 HRs and 15 RBI. Abraham Carillo retired four of the five batters he faced out of the bullpen, while Joey Frey struck out a pair over the final 1.1 without allowing a baserunner. The Cougars left 13 runners on base in the game. Azusa Pacific batters were hit by 13 pitches over the course of the four-game set, including five times today.
Up Next: The Cougars (2-2) will conclude this homestand with a one-off game Tuesday evening against Cal State Dominguez Hills. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m., and can be livestreamed HERE.
