Game three of a four game series versus the Bulldogs of San Mateo was a wild affair with bunches of runs scored in practically every inning. The visitors from San Mateo jumped out a big lead before Marin mounted a big rally to pull close, however in the end it was for not as CSM took the game by a score of 13-9.
San Mateo scored early as they took a lead just four batters into the game. A hit by pitch and a double put runners on second and third with one out before Angelo Bortolin smashed a two run double into the gap to put the Bulldogs up 2-0.
College of San Mateo ballooned their lead in the top of the third as a double and a single increased their advantage. They were just getting started as they loaded the bases with a pair of walks before a bases clearing two bagger doubled the lead to 6-0. San Mateo added another RBI single for good measure to push the advantage to 7-0.
The Mariners were down, but not out as they started their comeback immediately in the bottom of the third inning. A walk, single and sac bunt put runners at second and third with one out. Marcus Chiu's grounder brought home one run, before Jakob Davidson drove in Marin's second with a single. A third of the way through the game and the Mariners trailed 7-2.
College of Marin continued to chip away as they added more in the fifth inning. With one out a walk and single put Chiu at the plate. After a lengthy battle, the Mariners third baseman roped a pitch over the fence in left to cut the San Mateo advantage to 7-5. Marin added their sixth run in the bottom of the sixth on a bases loaded walk, but could not bring the score even.
San Mateo did not wait long to respond as they got to work in the top of the seventh. The visitors loaded the bases with one out before scoring a run on a wild pitch. A fielder's choice retired the second batter of the inning at home plate, but a two out, two RBI single pushed their lead to 10-6.
The Mariners would not be silenced as they rallied immediately in the bottom half. Three singles loaded the bases with no outs, before Adam Hussain lofted a sac fly to cut the lead to 10-7. A single reloaded the bases for Jake Munoz who smashed a hard hit ball that turned into a fielder's choice, scoring a run. A wild pitch brought home another run for Marin to cut the lead to just 10-9.
Unfortunately the Mariners would get no closer as San Mateo rebuilt an advantage with a solo home run in the top of the eighth and two runs in the ninth from a sacrifice and a wild pitch. The Mariners put two on and two out in the bottom of the ninth but failed to score.
The two teams combined for 22 runs and 32 hits while playing crisp defense in the field. Marcus Chiu had two hits and four RBI to go along with his home run, while all nine Marin starters had a hit and eight of nine scored a run. The top of the order was dominate for College of San Mateo as their top three hitters combined to go 10 for 16 with four RBI and six runs scored.
The Mariners will try to salvage a split of the four game series in Saturday's game at San Mateo.