Baseball lost two of three games in their Cuesta/Hancock Spring Tournament, despite outscoring their tournament competition, 24-22.  In today's loss to #15 Merced, the visiting Blue Devils jumped out to a four-run lead before All-WSC Outfielder Mattias Sessing scored on Third Baseman Robert Mansour's RBI-single to get the Cougars on the board.  Merced answered with three more runs on both sides of the stretch and held a 10-1 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.  Cuesta, for the second straight day, put up a valiant comeback, which came up just short.  The Cougars scored seven runs in their final at bat and the game ended with the tying run at the plate. The late rally was spurred on by the Cougars' bench as four substitutes collected a base-hit in the final frame, including two hits apiece for Second Baseman Mateos Melkesian (pict-L) and First Baseman Pranav Sundar (pict-R). Melkesian opened with the first of his two doubles in the inning, then scored immediately on a single.  Sundar came to bat with two outs and the bases loaded and promptly doubled off the wall to clear the bases.  Sundar's bingle led off a trio of two-baggers for the Cougars as he scored on a double by Alex Hagen, who scored on Melkesian second double to bring the Cougars within two runs with the tying run at the plate.  The Cougars had the visiting Blue Devils in their sites, but Merced made another call to the bullpen and was able to close the game, 10-8.  The setback dropped the Cougars to 17-12-1 on the season.  

The Cougars return to their Western State Conference schedule with three games against Oxnard next week.  The Cougars host Oxnard on Tuesday (2:30) and Saturday (1 PM), while also playing at Oxnard on Wednesday (2:30).  The Condors are alone in the WSC cellar, with a 3-12 record against the circuit, but just swept a series against #15 Rio Hondo.  Cuesta is currently a half-game behind local rival Allan Hancock in the WSC Standings.