Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN MARCOS, Calif.— Backed by perfect days at the plate by Kaitlin McGinley and Melyssa Bellamy, the Cougars raced to a pair of run-rule victories Saturday afternoon at the CSUSM Softball Field, defeating William Jessup 13-1 and 11-1.

The No. 8 ranked Cougars averaged three runs per inning on the day, scoring 24 runs in just eight innings while pitchers Katie Wilkinson and Ashley Dagenais kept the Warrior hitters at bay. As a team, the Cougars went 31-for-57 (.544) at the dish to improve their team batting average to .351 on the season.

In the first game, CSUSM scored three runs in the first inning before even making an out, cruising to a 6-1 lead after two innings. The Cougars finished the Warriors off with seven runs in the fourth inning to push the score to 13-1, and Brenna Parker closed out the game with a scoreless final inning.

Wilkinson (11-2) earned the win with four innings of three-hit ball, allowing just one run and recording eight of her 12 outs via groundballs.

McGinley and Bellamy each went 3-for-3, with McGinley stealing a base and scoring three runs while Bellamy smacked a double, scored twice, and drove in four runs.

The second game started treacherously with the Warriors getting on the scoreboard first to take a 1-0 lead, but the Cougars evened the score in the bottom of the frame with a RBI single by Bellamy.

Though the game remained tied until the third inning, the result ended up being more of the same as the Cougar bats remained red-hot the rest of the way.

CSUSM batted through the order in both the third and fourth innings, scoring five runs in each to pull away for the 11-1 victory.   

The freshman hurler Dagenais (3-1) pitched a complete game, allowing just two hits and an unearned run over five innings, lowering her team best ERA to 0.89.

McGinley went 2-for-2 with two runs scored and another stolen base, while Bellamy once again went 3-for-3 and slammed another double, driving in three runs on the game. The sophomore shortstop from Hesperia leads the team with a .484 batting average, 13 extra base hits, and a .828 slugging percentage.

With the wins Saturday, the Cougars improved to 18-3-1 on the season, which should help them remain in the NAIA Top-10 for the 33rd straight poll dating back to April 2010 when the new rankings are released on Tuesday.

CSUSM will wrap up its longest homestand of the season Tuesday, March 18 with a doubleheader against Simpson University, who boasts a 20-3 record and is also likely to be ranked. The Cougars will look to defend its unbeaten streak at home, as the team stands at 11-0-1 on campus this season.