Cougar softball got off to a nice start at the Ringor SoCal Smash on Thursday, easily defeating College of Idaho 7-0 in the team's first game of the tourney.

It was an all-around team effort for the Cougars, as seven different players scored a run, and Brenna Sandberg and Chanel Rose combined to throw a three-hit shutout.

The Cougars got off to a strong start and never looked back.  Ciera Ashman led off the first with a double, and after Alyssa Dronenberg drew a walk, first baseman Lauren Nelson continued her hot hitting by driving them both in with a base hit.  Nelson would then score on an Alicia Vicencio single.

CSUSM scored the rest of its runs in the third inning, putting the game out of reach.  Erica Coelho singled, Vicencio drew a walk, and Tasha Stokes singled them home.  A Shanti Poston single put runners at the corners, and Ashman ripped a two-RBI double to make it 7-0.

Meanwhile, College of Idaho had no answer for the Cougars' pitching duo of Sandberg and Rose.  Sandberg started the game and looked great, tossing four innings of one-hit ball.  She struck out six and walked none en route to picking up the win.  Rose took over in the fifth and finished the game off, allowing just two base runners while earning the save.

Cougar softball will continue play at the SoCal Smash this afternoon, taking on host school and the #3 ranked team in the NAIA, Cal Baptist.