For the second time in as many years, Cougar softball has earned a win over NCAA Division I's University of San Diego.  On Friday it came in the form of a road split, with USD winning game one 4-2, and the Cougars taking game two 4-2.

CSUSM is now 21-15 on the year.

In game one, USD got off to an early lead and was able to withstand a late Cougar comeback.  USD scored two runs in the first and one in the third off Cougar ace Melissa Lerno, getting out to a 3-0 lead.

CSUSM would battle back into it, however, scoring runs in the fourth and fifth innings.  In the fourth, Lauren Nelson scored the team's first run after reaching on an error.  The following inning, Tasha Stokes and Shanti Poston led off with singles, and after a wild pitch Ashley Estepa got a run home with a sac fly.

USD was able to hold off the charge though, and score a run in the sixth to end the game at 4-2.

But game two would prove a different story, thanks to some solid hitting and a great performance on the mound by Brenna Sandberg.

Sandberg, who was lights-out at last week's Tucson Invitational, continued her excellent season on Friday.  Facing the Torero's stout lineup, Sandberg went the full seven innings, allowing just two runs while scattering nine hits.  She struck out nine and walked just one en route to picking up the win.

Sandberg got plenty of support, as CSUSM scored in four of the game's first five innings.

Ciera Ashman led off the game with a walk, and a couple batters later was driven home by an Alyssa Dronenburg double.  In the second, Elizabeth Bush led off with a single, and Poston knocked a two-out double to plate her.  In the fourth, Erica Coelho led off with a single, and this time it was Stokes who came through with the two-out RBI base hit.  And in the fifth, Dronenburg once again drove in Ashman. 

The win would not come easy, as USD cut the lead to 4-2 in the seventh and brought the winning run to the plate.  But Sandberg came through, striking out the game's final hitter to secure the victory.

CSUSM will play tomorrow at home against Vanguard.