Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 As the last home date of the season, Saturday marked the first-ever Senior Day for Cal State San Marcos softball. When the games ended, senior Leilani Madrigal and her teammates had a memory that would last a lifetime. That’s because the Cougars pulled a shocking upset of #1 Cal Baptist in game one Saturday. While #20 CSUSM’s resume is certainly impressive, Cal Baptist has been virtually unbeatable this season. The Lancers came in with a 46-4 record, a team batting average of nearly .350, a team ERA of 1.28, and a ridiculous 33 home runs. But none of that mattered to the inspired Cougars in game one, as CSUSM rode starter Melissa Lerno to a thrilling 1-0 win in nine innings. Cal Baptist got a measure of revenge in game two,, winning 10-0. In that first game, the Cougars faced Cal Baptist ace Amy Thomas, a first-team All-American and arguably the best pitcher in the NAIA. But CSUSM came out ready, with Elizabeth Bush and Karen Morizi leading off with back-to-back singles. The rally was quickly extinguished though when Bush was caught stealing and Morizi was caught in a double-play. Thomas’ counterpart was Cougar ace Melissa Lerno, who, after Saturday’s start, may well be in that “best pitcher in the NAIA” conversation. Lerno looked fantastic against the Lancers’ potent lineup, and was on her game and locked in from start to finish. She got some early help in the second, courtesy of a beautiful diving stab by third baseman Lauren Nelson. A potential run was cut down in the third, when a relay from Elizabeth Bush to Erica Coelho to Kimi Villalpando cut down a runner at the plate. With both pitchers looking great, it was clear that runs would be few and far between. A two-out error by the Cougars in the fifth was potentially dangerous – but catcher Kimi Villalpando gunned down the runner trying to steal to neutralize the threat. The Cougars put two on with no out in the bottom of the inning, but a failed sacrifice bunt and a pair of groundouts kept the game scoreless. Lerno continued to roll in the sixth, inducing an inning-ending double-play turned beautifully by Lauren Nelson and Erica Coelho. Thomas pitched around a Shanti Poston single to get through the bottom of the inning, sending the scoreless tie into the seventh. Lerno plowed through the Lancers, striking out the final two hitters to retire the side. Thomas matched her, however, sending the game to extras, where each team starts with a runner on second. In Cal Baptist’s half inning, Lerno struck out the first hitter, who was trying to bunt. The second hitter successfully bunted, putting a runner on third with two outs. That led to a showdown between Lerno and CBU hitter Kelly Maconachy – a showdown that Lerno won, inducing a fly ball that Leilani Madrigal ran down. The Cougars took their turn, with Nicolette Nassif placed just two bases away from upsetting the #1 team. But like CBU, CSUSM couldn’t execute the sacrifice bunt, and Nassif was thrown out at third. The game went scoreless to the ninth, where Lerno continued to amaze. Maconachy was placed on second, and successfully sacrificed over. CBU tried a safety squeeze, but the runner on third held. With two outs, Nikki Lowe ripped a ball to left, but Madrigal was able to squeeze it for the final out.