Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Pitching was the name of game for CSUSM softball in a sweep of Bethany on Monday, as CSUSM ace Melissa Lerno struck out 14 in the first game, and Brenna Sandberg followed that up with 11 of her own in the second.  The Cougars won game one 2-1 and game two 4-0.

#21 ranked CSUSM climbs above .500 on the year, and now sits at 8-7.

The Cougar offense got off to a quick start in game one.  Ciera Ashman led off the first with a single, was sacrificed over by Ashley Estepa, and drove in by an Alyssa Dronenberg double down the left field line.

Bethany was able to string together a couple of hits to tie the game in the third, but CSUSM would go up once and for all in the fourth when Elizabeth Bush drove in Lise Leibl with a two-out infield single.

But the story of the game was Lerno, who was in peak form on the mound.  Aside from the seeing-eye singles in the third, Lerno was untouchable, overpowering batters and effectively moving her fastball around the strike zone.  She went the full 7 innings, allowing just 1 run, 2 hits, and 2 walks while striking out 14 (of a possible 21 outs).  The win improves Lerno to 4-3 on the year.

CSUSM started out strong again in the back end of the double-header, scoring another run in the first inning.  Ashman led off with a single, and with two outs Lauren Nelson singled her home to put the Cougars up 1-0.

The Cougars would add to the lead in the third, as Erica Coelho knocked a single, and freshman Alicia Ingram took advantage of her opportunity to pinch run, scoring from second on a wild pitch.  Nelson made the scoring chance possible, laying down a textbook sacrifice bunt in the previous at-bat.

Once again though, the story was on the mound.  Sophomore Brenna Sandberg has been super solid this season, and Monday was perhaps her best effort yet.  Not normally a strikeout pitcher, Sandberg's 11 K's are a season-high, and she was in control from start to finish.  She finished with just two hits and no walks allowed in the complete game shutout.

Elizabeth Bush provided insurance in the sixth, driving in a pair with a two-out single.  Sandberg closed out the game without any issues, thanks to a nifty sliding catch by Ashman in center.

CSUSM will be in action tomorrow in a big double-header at Vanguard.