Box Score ST. JOSEPH, Mo.— For the third consecutive season, the Cal State San Marcos softball team is advancing past the opening round of the NAIA National Championships thanks to a strong pitching effort by
Cortney Allen and ten hits by the offense, defeating third-seed Marion (Ind.) 4-0 Wednesday at Heritage Park.
The Cougars, playing as the home team, set the tone early with three runs in the first inning.
Kaitlin McGinley led off the bottom of the first with an infield single, stole her 42
nd base of the year, and scored on an Alex Miler single through the right side to give CSUSM a 1-0 edge.
Olivia Lucatuorto increased the lead by two more runs after smacking a double down the right field line to bring Miller home, and also scoring on the play due to an overthrow.
Marian threatened back in the third inning, loading the bases with no outs, but
Cortney Allen battled back to get a fielder's choice, foul pop up, and fly out to left to escape the inning with no damage.
Alex Miller homered to left field on the first pitch she saw in the fifth inning, increasing the CSUSM lead to 4-0. Marion wasn't even able to put a runner on base after that, giving
Cortney Allen her NAIA leading 34
th win of the year. Allen went the distance, allowing just three hits and a walk over seven innings, striking out three and lowering her season ERA to 0.91. The senior from Elk Grove, Calif. was dominant, allowing Marion to get only two hit balls past the infield, one of which was an easy flyout.
Kaitlin McGinley,
Alex Miller, and
Olivia Lucatuorto each had three hits in the game and an extra base hit apiece. McGinley, who hit her 7
th triple of the season in the second inning, now ranks third in the NAIA in both triples and stolen bases.
After going 3-0 in opening round play with a
7-1 victory over Dickinson State and a
5-2 win over No. 19 Park earlier in the week, CSUSM (43-10) now advances to 10-team NAIA Softball National Championship, May 24-30 in Columbus, Ga. The Cougars have reached the NAIA Final Four in each of the past two seasons.
Update: The Cougars received the No. 5 seed and will play No. 4-seed Oklahoma City (50-13) on Friday, May 24 at 1:00 p.m. PT. For complete tournament bracket, click here.
