Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 For the second straight day at the So-Cal Smash, #20 Cal State San Marcos softball defeated Holy Names, but fell to #1 Cal Baptist. CSUSM won today's first game 14-0, but lost 7-3 to the host school.
The Cougars are now 7-5 on the season. Holy Names is 2-6, while Cal Baptist continued its undefeated run and is now 15-0.
The early game was over fast, with CSUSM scoring 4 runs in the first, 3 in the second, 2 in the third, and 5 in the fourth. The 14-0 game was called at the end of the fifth inning due to the mercy rule.
Though no home runs were hit in the contest, many Cougars posted great numbers at the plate. Ciera Ashman, Alyssa Dronenburg, Erica Coelho, Shanti Poston, and Kimi Villalpando each had two hits. Ashman and Poston drove in three run apiece as well.
On the mound, Brenna Sandberg was excellent, throwing a five inning complete game shutout. She allowed just three hits and no walks.
After Friday's 12-1 loss to Cal Baptist, #20 CSUSM got another shot at the top ranked team in the NAIA on Saturday. While this game was much closer, the Lancers would once again prevail.
After Sloan McHann gave the Lancers a 2-0 lead in the second, CSUSM would answer right back and tie the game 2-2. Ashley Estepa was hit by a pitch, Elizabeth Bush drew a walk, and Alicia Ingram singled to load the bases. That brought up power hitting Dronenburg, who patiently drew a walk to plate the Cougars' first run. With two outs, Lauren Nelson added a sac fly that scored Bush - but Ingram was thrown out at third trying to advance.
From there, Cal Baptist's offense would chip away, building the lead with two runs in the third, one in the fourth, and another in the fifth.
But down 7-2 in the seventh, CSUSM would rally. Coelho and Poston led off the inning with singles, and after a fielder's choice and a walk to Tasha Stokes, an error in the outfield allowed a run to score and make it 7-3. With the bases still loaded, the tying run was at the plate with just one out - but pitcher Tory Ferreira would retire the final two hitters to end the game.
CSUSM softball will face another tough test at Point Loma on February 27th.
