Box Score Box Score

 Senior pitcher Brenna Sandberg tossed a 7-inning no-hitter, as Cal State San Marcos remained undefeated at the 2011 NAIA National Championships on Friday, defeating Morningside (IA) 5-0.

The #4-ranked Cougars improve to 2-0 in pool play, and 42-9 overall on the season.  Morningside drops to 0-2 in pool play and 45-11 overall.

The day belonged to Sandberg, a Second Team All-American in 2010 and the reigning two-time A.I.I. Conference Pitcher of the Year.  She needed just 84 pitches on the day, shredding a Morningside lineup that came in scoring 6.5 runs per game.  Sandberg struck out 9 batters and walked 3, and the defense behind her did not commit an error. 

The no-hitter is Sandberg's fourth this season, including two perfect games.

Following yesterday's 5 inning, 13 strikeout shutout of Asbury (KY), Sandberg has now thrown 12 innings at Nationals and allowed a total of 1 hit and 4 walks while striking out 22 batters.  The win improves her to an NAIA-best 38-8 on the season.

Sandberg had plenty of support from the Cougar lineup, who scored two in the second inning then put the game out of reach with a three-run seventh.  CSUSM made the most of its chances off Morningside starter Emma Remy, scoring its five runs on four hits and stranding just three runners.

In the second, Alyssa Dronenburg scored on an error, and a booming double by Heavin-Lee Rodriguez plated Kimi Villalpando.  The 2-0 lead would persist until the final inning, when an RBI single by Kaitlin McGinley and a two-run base hit by Derrisha Lacey pushed the lead to 5-0.

The win for CSUSM sets up a winner-take-all match with Bethel College (IN) tomorrow at 4:30 PM CDT.  Bethel will take on Asbury (KY) later on Friday, but regardless of that result, the winner of tomorrow's contest will win Pool D and advance to eight-team,  double elimination bracket play to decide the National Champion.