SAN MARCOS, Calif.— The No. 8 ranked Cal State San Marcos softball team will look to cap off its longest homestand of the year unbeaten, hosting a pair of doubleheaders Saturday and Tuesday against the William Jessup Warriors and the Simpson University Redhawks. The Cougars are 5-0-1 on the homestand, and unbeaten at home this season with a 9-0-1 record.

THE SCHEDULE
Games 21 & 22
Saturday, March 15 – 12:00 p.m./ 2:00 p.m.
William Jessup (1-4) at CSUSM (16-3-1)
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Softball Field
Live Stats  Live Video
 
Games 23 & 24
Tuesday, March 18 – 2:00 p.m./ 4:00 p.m.
Simpson University (20-3) at CSUSM (16-3-1)
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Softball Field
Live Stats  Live Video

THE WEEK IN REVIEW
CSUSM had to cancel four games due to the heavy rain that swept across Southern California last week. However, the rain did little to cool down the Cougars, who stayed hot over the stretch despite the wet conditions in sweeping both Tennessee Wesleyan and La Sierra.

CSUSM outscored the Bulldogs and the Golden Eagles 25-5 over four games, and pitchers Ashley Dagenais and Brenna Parker combined to throw the team's first no-hitter of the year in the final game against La Sierra.
 
Melyssa Bellamy continued to impress at the plate, smacking two homeruns and a double in eight at-bats. Katie Wilkinson threw two complete games without giving up an earned run, improving her ERA to 1.53 and record to 10-2 on the season.
 
THE WEEK AHEAD
William Jessup (30-18) and Simpson (36-28) tied for the Cal-Pac Conference title in 2013, so both teams are formidable opponents for CSUSM. The Warriors are off to a tough start in 2014, entering play with a 1-4 record while the Redhawks are putting together their best season in school history with a 20-3 record. Simpson currently is tied for third in the NAIA in wins, and is riding a 15 game winning streak.
 
The Cougars are 7-0 lifetime against William Jessup, though all three of its wins last season were by two runs or less. CSUSM holds an 11-2 edge in the career series against Simpson, having won all four meetings last season by a combined score of 19-2.

William Jessup's Brittany Lamar ranks fourth in the NAIA in slugging percentage (1.083) and RBI per game (1.8), while Simpson sluggers Kara Wall and Courtney Thomas are each tied for fourth in the NAIA with seven homeruns apiece, leaving it up to CSUSM's groundball-inducing ace Wilkinson try to keep the balls in the yard.

Wilkinson is fourth in the NAIA in total innings pitched (78) and fifth in wins (10). Her 1.65-to-1 groundball/flyball ratio has also helped second baseman Olivia Lucatuorto to rank No. 1 in the NAIA in assists (60).

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