Alyssa Dronenberg's two home runs powered Cal State San Marcos past Azusa Pacific in game one, but a late-inning comeback in game two was cut short due to darkness on Tuesday.  #21-ranked CSUSM took game one 6-4, and lost game two 2-1.

The Cougars are now 1-2 on the season.

Dronenberg, a freshman playing in her first home game, got CSUSM started early in game one, blasting a solo homer in the second inning.  Azusa tied it back up quickly, but CSUSM jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the inning on the strength of six base hits.  The Cougars added two more runs in the fifth - including one on Dronenberg's second bomb - and held on to win the contest 6-4.

On the mound, senior Melissa Lerno was solid, if not quite as dominant as we've seen her at times.  She went five innings, striking out eight while allowing just one run.  Dronenberg carried the offense, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI.  Fellow freshman Ashley Estepa also contributed, going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Unfortunately for CSUSM, game two would unfold differently.  Azusa starter Erin Halma was very strong, pitching out of jams and stranding runners in nearly every inning.  She threw six innings of one run ball to pick up the win. For CSUSM, starter Brenna Sandberg nearly matched Halma pitch-for-pitch, making just one mistake - allowing a two-run home run to Erika Marmolejo with no outs in the second inning.

The Cougars cut the lead in half in the sixth, but stranded the tying run on third.  After Sandberg threw an easy top of the seventh, CSUSM's final rally was looking promisng - two runners on with nobody out - before the game was called due to darkness.

CSUSM will be at home again on Friday when they host Concordia.