Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
SAN MARCOS, Calif.— For 12 innings, Cortney Allen and the Cougars kept the William Woods (Mo.) bats at bay, but one mishap-fueled inning enabled the Owls to snag the second game of Monday's doubleheader at the CSUSM Softball Field 7-2, ending the Cougars 12-game winning streak and snapping its 28-game home winning streak. CSUSM prevailed in the first game 2-0.

With each team's best pitcher on the mound, the Cougars broke through first in the opening game with a clutch 2-out single to right field to take a 2-0 lead in the third inning.

Cortney Allen plowed through the Owl lineup through five innings, allowing just a single before the Owls strung together two hits in the sixth. However, Allen escaped a jam with runners on second and third with one out by inducing a flyout and groundout to end the inning.

In the final frame, William Woods mustered another strong comeback attempt, loading the bases before Allen struck out pinch-hitter Megan Cooper to end the game. Allen (17-1) picked up her sixth complete game shutout, allowing just six hits while striking out eight.

The second game looked to be another pitcher's duel until Alex Miller led off the fifth inning with a line drive homerun to left field to take a 1-0 lead.

This time, the Owls would rally back, tying the game in the sixth inning on a fielder's choice where the Cougars attempted to throw out the tying run at home instead of taking the sure out, but the Owls' Lindsey LeCuru narrowly beat the tag to make it 1-1.

Things diminished quickly for the Cougars, who committed three errors on the inning and allowed seven runs on five hits before Katie Wilkinson put an end to the inning by inducing a groundout to second base.

CSUSM fought back to get its second run on an RBI single by Tayler Ybarra after a Tani Leasau double in the sixth inning, but couldn't get any closer.

With the split, the top ranked Cougars are now 21-4 on the season. William Woods, who is receiving votes on the Coaches Poll and has only lost to ranked opponent, is now 3-5. CSUSM plays next at the Tuscon Invitational March 16 and 17, and will return home March 26 for a doubleheader against Simpson University.