Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
The 2012 Cal State San Marcos Softball team debuted for their home fans Friday, treating them to a comeback win against Simpson 2-1 and a shutout victory over Biola 6-0 in Day 1 of the 2012 Cougar Clash Softball Tournament. Alyssa Dronenburg went 4-for-5 on the day with a homerun, and also recorded 2 walks.

Game 1 (CSUSM 2-Simpson 1)

Box Score

Starting pitcher Cortney Allen, coming off a perfect game last Friday, got out to a little trouble in the first inning, allowing 3 hits and a walk, but avoided major damage by allowing just one run. The opposing Red Hawks had difficulty containing Allen after that, scrounging together just 3 singles the rest of the game.

It looked for a while like that single run for Simpson would stand as the winning run, as as both pitchers were locked in at the mound and neither team could manage an extra base hit.

However, in the seventh and final inning, the #2 ranked Cougars worked some late inning magic to escape with the victory.

Catcher Caitlin Monnahan started the dramatic rally with a leadoff single, and was replaced by pinch runner Rachel Jimenez. After Sarah Quiambao advanced the runner with a groundout, Alicia Ingram laid down a perfect bunt single to bring Jimenez to 3rd base with just 1 out. With Kaitlin McGinley batting, Ingram promptly stole second, which turned out to be crucial.

McGinley hit a ground ball to the shortstop, who then threw out Jimenez at home as Ingram advanced to third base. Meanwhile, McGinley rounded first base and darted for second, drawing a throw from the Simpson catcher, and giving just enough time for Ingram to race home and tie the game at 1. Speedster Kaitlin McGinley took third base on that throw to the plate, and later scored on a wild pitch to score the eventual winning run.

Simpson had a chance to tie in the bottom half of the inning, but Cortney Simpson closed the game out without incident, pitching a complete game to earn her 4th win on the season.
 
Game 2 (CSUSM 6-Biola 0)

Box Score

The Cougars looked like they were in for another tight pitcher's duel until Alyssa Dronenburg hit her 5^th homerun of the season, a two-run shot that brought home Kaitlin McGinley to put San Marcos up 2-0 after 4 innings.

CSUSM freshman starter Kimberle Smith was excellent once again, pitching 5 scoreless innings before exiting, and lowering her season ERA to 0.75. Fellow freshman Jordan Lamoureux pitched a scoreless 6th before the Cougars exploded for 4 runs in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by an Alex Miller double and a Theresa Houle homerun— her sixth of the year.

Lamoureax finished off the 7th as well to earn the save and complete the shutout of the visiting Eagles. Kimberle Smith picked up the win, and is now 4-0 this season.

The Cougars move to 15-2 on the year after the two victories Friday, and will play again two games tomorrow at 11:00am and 3:00pm against Simpson and Claremont-Mudd Scripps. The 2012 Cougar Clash continues on Sunday as well, and carries over to Thursday through Sunday of next week.