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A furious bottom-of-the-ninth rally capped off what was a surreal and historic day for baseball at Cal State San Marcos, as the Cougars, cheered on by a record-shattering crowd, clawed their way back from a 3-run deficit to shock Vanguard 8-7.
CSUSM is now 1-0 on the year. Vanguard drops to 1-1.
Playing the first-ever on-campus baseball game in the history of Cal State San Marcos, Cougar baseball was greeted with a massive and enthusiastic crowd. The official total of 787 fans more than triples the team's previous high, and makes the contest the highest-ever attended home game in the history of CSUSM Athletics.
The monster crowd surrounded home plate, and at one point nearly 200 fans took makeshift seats on the berm overlooking right field.
President Haynes was on hand to help officially open the field, and she was joined in throwing out the first pitch by Cougar supporters John Omahen and Henry Coleman, who were crucial to making the field a reality.
And three hours later, it's safe to say that those fans were treated to the most exciting home game in the five year history of Cougar baseball.
The game took the form of a three-act play, with the Cougars dominating the first act thanks largely to pitcher Johnny Holtman. A five-year senior, Holtman got the nod to start the home opener, and turned in a dazzling performance. He went five shutout innings, striking out three and never losing his composure.
CSUSM's lineup would take advantage of Holtman's work, getting out to a 3-0 lead. Kyle Secciani got things going right off the bat, leading off the bottom of the first with a triple, and coming in to score on an Austin Coleman grounder. CSUSM added two more in the third on a Kevin Silvett base knock.
However, with Holtman leaving in the sixth, the game's second act started and Vanguard took control. Facing the Cougars' bullpen, Vanguard tallied one in the sixth, then took advantage of CSUSM relievers' inability to find the strike zone for a devastating six-run seventh inning that was aided by an error and four walks.
For their part, the Cougars didn't help themselves on the base paths either, running their way out of a couple of potentially big innings, particularly in the seventh.
Down 7-3 with two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the eighth, the raucous crowd was essentially silenced. That's when senior Johnny Omahen stepped into the box, and promptly smacked the field's first-ever home run over the fence in left. Though it only pulled the Cougars to within three, the long ball breathed life back into the crowd and the team, setting up a ninth inning to remember.
With Vanguard ace reliever James McGeary out of the game, CSUSM's lineup dug in against Joseph Vega III to start the ninth. Trent Jemmett, who earlier basically saved the game with a circus leaping catch-and-flip double-play, bled out a walk to get the rally started. Austin Coleman continued what was a big return for him with a double to the gap, bringing the tying run to the plate. Kevin Silvett drew another walk, and a passed ball would plate Jemmett. Ryle Parks then walked to bring the winning run to the plate.
After a pitching change and fly out, newcomer Anthony Renteria delivered a massive base hit to center, bringing home both runs to tie the game. With pinch runner Corey McCloskey on third, Abraham Torres was intentionally walked to load the bases for Omahen. With two strikes and the crowd at full-throat, chanting and even starting an impromptu wave, Omahen smoked a ball down the right field line, allowing McCloskey to trot home with the game winning run to frenzied cheers from the fans.
Unsung heroes for the game include relief pitchers Kyle Smart – who finally put out the fire in the seventh – and Mitch Ferguson – who tossed a clean 8th and 9th to keep his team in the game.
These teams will meet again for a double-header tomorrow, this time at Vanguard. CSUSM will be back at home and look to recapture the magic on Tuesday against #8 Point Loma at 2:00 PM.
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