ALEX FRANCO
STAFF WRITER

The Cougar baseball team looked to improve its new national ranking late Friday afternoon against San Diego Christian.

The Cougars began the day with a close loss to SDC, losing the first game 5-3. Stranded runners and lack of hits enough plagued the Cougars in their game one loss. The third inning was where they really had their chance to pull away when they scored two runs off Anthony Renteria and Austin Colemen RBI singles to take a 2-1 lead but the two were ultimately left stranded when the team failed to continue the rally.

The pitching staff also gained 14 hits all together in the game, losing the 2-1 lead after SDC scored three runs in the fourth inning, gaining a lead they wouldn’t give up for the rest of the game. SDC added an extra run in the ninth inning to lock up the Cougars.

The Cougars bounced back in the second game rallying late in the bottom of the sixth inning scoring a total of five runs to beat SDC 7-6. Centerfielder Trent Jemett led the Cougars going 2-4 with a double and two RBI’s and hit a pivotal two run double in the sixth inning rally to tie the game at six and ultimately coming around to score and put the Cougars ahead for the win.

“Great comeback in the second game, but we needed to play with a little more intensity overall,” head coach Dennis Pugh said about the team’s performances on the day.

“This has been our toughest schedule in my six years here and I’m proud that we are competing at a high level,” Pugh said.

The number 23 ranked Cougars are now 20-12 on the season and play again at home April 14 against Point Loma.

Photo: Senior member, Anthony Renteria, hits the ball right past second base. Photo by Alex Franco