Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 IRVINE, Calif.— The No. 8 Cal State San Marcos softball team had no problem putting up runs against No. 1 ranked and defending NAIA National Champion Concordia (Calif.), but had trouble keeping the Eagles of the scoreboard as well, falling 10-7 and 14-6 on the road Saturday.

The Cougars scored 13 runs in 12 innings against the Eagle squad that was the national leader in ERA last year (0.63) and has 61-3 (.953) record at home over the past three seasons. Unfortunately, it was not enough to take either game of Saturday's doubleheader, and Concordia's potent offense connected for 24 runs, including a walk-off three run homerun in game one.

Things got off to a good for CSUSM in the first game, as Melyssa Bellamy continued her torrid start to the season with her first homerun of the year in the first inning, giving the Cougars a 1-0. After the Eagles tied the score in the bottom half of the inning, Cal State San Marcos jumped right back up 4-1 in the top of the second inning with a Mallory Campbell RBI single and a Caylyn Rodriguez 2-RBI double.

However, the Eagles fought back with five runs of their own in the second, but their two-run lead evaporated in the top of the third when Alex Miller and Campbell each brought home runs to tie the score at 6-6.

Concordia again took the lead 7-6 with a RBI single in the fourth inning, but Tani Leasau tied the score at 7 with a single down the left field line in the top of the fifth.

The score remained knotted until the seventh inning, where the Cougars threatened with runners on the corners with two outs after Leasau walked and Campbell singled. Pinch hitter Patricia Banda was called out looking and the game went to the bottom of the seventh still tied.

Concordia led off with a walk and a single to left center before catcher Emily Craig ended the game with a three run homerun, giving Katie Wilkinson (6-1) and the Cougars their first loss of the season.

In the second game, Bellamy homered in the first for the second time Saturday, but a fast start by the Eagle offense doomed the Cougars in the bottom half of the frame. Concordia scored seven runs (two earned) on just two hits, benefitting from three walks and three hit-by-pitches.

Concordia piled on three more runs in the second innings to take a 10-1 lead, but Bellamy picked up two more RBI in the third with a single to cut the deficit to seven. Ensuing RBI singles by Brenna Parker, Olivia Lucatuorto, and Tayler Ybarra trimmed the score to 10-6, but that was as close as the Cougars came after that.

Trailing 13-6 in the bottom of the fifth, shortstop Jenna Jorgenson homered to send the Eagles to a walk-off victory via run-rule. Ashley Dagenais (0-1) picked up the loss, while Bellamy finished the day going 4-for-5 at the plate with two homeruns.

With the losses, CSUSM drops to 10-2 on the season. Concordia improved to 9-1 with the victories. The Cougars play next on Saturday, February 22 at Biola and then Sunday, February 23 at La Sierra. Both contests are doubleheaders that begin at noon.