SAN MARCOS, Calif.— After a tone-setting season opener in which the No. 1 ranked Cougars swept La Sierra and Cortney Allen threw a perfect game, the Cal State San Marcos softball team will hit the road again this week, taking on local rivals Vanguard and Biola.

Schedule
Games 10 & 11
Friday, February 15 – 1:00 pm / 3:00 pm
No. 1 Cal State San Marcos (7-2) at Vanguard (4-4)
Costa Mesa, Calif. – Vanguard Softball Field
Live Stats

Games 12 & 13
Saturday, February 16 – 12:00 pm / 2:00 pm
No. 1 Cal State San Marcos (7-2) at Biola (2-8)
La Mirada, Calif. – Freedom Field
Live Stats

Weekend Preview
Vanguard has always been a strong team under head coach Beth Renkoski. In her 17th season as head coach of the Lions, she has led the team to a 511-383-3 record and two top-5 finishes in the NAIA national championships. Cal State San Marcos is 14-8 against the Lions lifetime, but under head coach Dave Williams –  who is tied for fourth in career wins with 673 and 2nd in all-time NAIA winning percentage – the Cougars have won 11 of 12 meetings with Vanguard, including their last 10 matchups. The Lions are led by sophomore catcher Brittany Boggs, who is hitting .560 with four homeruns in 25 at bats this season.  

Similarly, CSUSM has also had a strong run of play recently against Biola during Coach Williams' tenure, winning all 11 of their matchups against the Eagles since 2010. The Cougars are 14-9 against Biola lifetime. The Eagles main threat is lefty slugger Cece Luster, who is hitting .448 on the season with two homeruns in 29 at bats and also serves as a starting pitcher.

Golden Gloves
Not only are the Cougars the number one ranked team in the NAIA coaches' poll, but they also measure up as the NAIA's top defense statistically. The Cougars have made just two errors on the season, leading to a shiny .992 fielding percentage. CSUSM has gone five consecutive games without committing an error. With a strong pitching staff already, a steady and athletic Cougar defense could spell trouble for many CSUSM opponents.

It's Miller Time
Two-time all-conference selection and two-time NAIA 2^nd Team All-American Alex Miller is no stranger to success at the plate, but recently the junior has been even hotter. Miller has gone 6 for her last 6 at the plate, and has reached base safely in her last seven at bats. The San Diego native leads the Cougars with a .467 batting average, with only one strikeout in 30 at-bats.

RBI Machine
Also on a tear offensively is second baseman Olivia Lucatuorto, a standout sophomore who is hitting .387 on the season and has had four multiple RBI games in just nine games played. The product of Ponderosa High School in Cameron Park, Calif. has knocked in six RBI in her last three games, and 12 on the season. Like her teammate Miller, Lucatuorto has struck out just once in her 31 at bats.
 
Reserved Seats Still Available!
Reserved seating for the 2013 Cal State San Marcos baseball and softball home games is now available. Guarantee yourself reserved individual seats with back rests directly behind home plate for all home games for just $100. Interested parties should contact Rachel McConeghy at rmcconeg@csusm.edu, call 760-750-7102, or click here in order to purchase.