The #21-ranked Cal State San Marcos softball team hit a bit of a roadblock at the SoCal Smash on Friday, losing 6-3 to Simpson and 4-0 to College of Idaho.

For most of the morning game, the Cougars held the upper hand over Simpson.  Singles by Ashley Estepa, Alyssa Dronenberg, and Lauren Nelson produced a run in the first inning, and starting pitcher Ashley Salvino cruised through the early game. 

But things would change in the fifth, when a two-out error allowed a pair of runs to score.  Simpson would expand the lead the following frame, once again taking advantage of defensive miscues to plate four runs.  The Cougars mounted a comeback in the seventh, with Alicia Vicencio and Estepa scoring runs, but pitcher Brianna Melgard was able to escape and seal the 6-3 result.

CSUSM ran into an unlucky match-up in game two, facing 2008 All-American pitcher Jody Zillner, who would live up to her status as one of the best in the NAIA.  She threw seven innings of shutout ball, limiting the Cougars to just three hits - two courtesy of Ciera Ashman and one by Elizabeth Bush.

Zillner did it at the plate as well, providing the game winning run with a solo homer in the fourth.  It was the only real blemish against Cougar ace Melissa Lerno, who was the victim of three unearned runs as well that inning.  Lerno finished the game with just four hits and no walks allowed.

Now 4-5, the Cougars will look to get back on track tomorrow at the final day of the SoCal Smash.