Box Score 1 | Box Score 2  It was a rather eventful Saturday for Cal State San Marcos softball, as the squad went on the road to face NCAA Division III powerhouse University of Redlands.  After Redlands won the first game 5-2, the teams played the highest scoring game in CSUSM softball history, with the Cougars prevailing 19-15.

#8-ranked CSUSM is now 8-3 on the year.  Redlands is 6-1.

The first and much less eventful game saw Redlands score three runs in the first inning and never lose that lead.  All-American pitcher Brenna Sandberg was tagged for five runs but still went the full six innings, striking out eight batters.

At the plate, the Cougar lineup started the game strong, scoring in both the first and second innings.  In the first, CSUSM manufactured a run on a double-steal, with Derrisha Lacey crossing the plate and Alyssa Dronenburg serving as the decoy.  In the second, Heavin-Lee Rodriguez ripped a triple to right field, scoring Shanti Poston.

That would be all CSUSM would get, however, as Redlands pitcher Kayla Uphold held them scoreless for the remainder to pick up the win.

Of course, in game two, neither team would have any trouble at all plating runs.  The game started with CSUSM jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the first, and Redlands quickly answering to make it 4-3.  The Bulldogs pushed it to 5-3 in the second, but CSUSM would score four in the third, then four more in the fourth to take a seemingly-insurmountable 11-5 lead.   Redlands scored one in the fifth and two in the sixth to make it 11-8, but the Cougars dropped the hammer an eight-spot in the seventh inning, turning the game into a 19-8 laugher.

Redlands was not laughing, however, roaring back with seven in the bottom of the seventh to cut it to 19-15.  Fittingly, the game ended when Redlands' Sarah Beeman cleared the bases with a three-run double and was thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple.

As one might expect, the stats for the Cougar lineup were gaudy.  Lacey went 3-for-6 with 3 runs and 2 RBI; Alicia Ingram scored a pair of runs; Alyssa Dronenburg went 3-for-4 with 4 runs and 2 RBI; Alex Miller was 4-for-4 with 3 doubles, 4 runs, and 4 RBI; Jalisa McCarvel scored and drove in two runs; Rodriguez went 5-for-5 with 5 RBI; Poston scored a run; Sarah Quiambao drove in a pair; and Theresa Houle drove in a run.

In total, the two teams combined for 34 runs on 34 hits.  Predictably, it was not a good day for the pitching staffs, but the Cougars' defense didn't help either, accounting for 7 unearned runs.  Starter Kristin Jaeger earned the win, persevering for five innings.

The Cougars will get little time to rest, as they'll play their home opener Monday against Mayville State, starting at 1:30 PM.