LAS VEGAS – The Cal State San Marcos softball team combined for 21 runs on 21 hits during the second day of the Desert Stinger Classic at Majestic Park Softball Complex, taking down Black Hills State 11-0 in five innings before topping host Montana State-Billings, 10-5.
CSUSM has won five consecutive games and sits at 8-3 heading into the final day of competition in Las Vegas. The Cougars face Simon Fraser (B.C.) and Western New Mexico at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, respectively.
Senior designated player
Naomi Amu went a combined 6-for-6 with nine RBI over the two games, homering in each contest to up her streak to four consecutive games with a homer.
With two wins tomorrow, the Cougars have an opportunity to take home the Desert Stinger Classic title. The tournament features 31 other teams from the NCAA Division II West Region.
Game 1CSUSM scored five in the first and three in both the second and third innings to put its opening game against Black Hills State away early.
Amu went 3-for-3 with five RBI, including a three-run homerun in the third that handed CSUSM its final runs of the day.
Melyssa Bellamy put up a 3-for-4 outing, scoring twice.
Brogan Hoenisch and
Devin Vanderhoff both went 2-for-3.
Lindsay Cerulle made it 1-0 in the first inning, scoring on a passed ball on an
Olivia Lucatuorto walk. Bellamy then singled before Amu brought Lucatuorto and Bellamy home with a two-run single.
Carrie Clark then walked three straight CSUSM hitters, the final being
Karla Bernal, whose walk forced in Amu.
Caylyn Rodriguez then popped out to center, bringing home Vanderhoff with a sacrifice fly that made it 5-0.
Bellamy and Amu led off with singles in the second inning, and Vanderhoff loaded the bases with a one-out single to center. Hoenisch and Bernal then came through with back-to-back RBI singles, and the Cougars were granted their eighth run of the game on an overthrow after Bernal's hit.
Amu capped the Cougar scoring with a homerun to center that brought in Lucatuorto and Bellamy.
Ashley Dagenais started the game for CSUSM, allowing just one hit while striking out three in her two innings of work.
Katie Wilkinson (3-1) worked the final three innings for the Cougars without allowing a hit and striking out four. Wilkinson earned the win due to the fact that Dagenais did not work the required amount of innings (three) to earn the victory in a five-inning game.
Game 2CSUSM fell behind 2-0 to the Yellowjackets, but utilized an eight-run third inning to earn its fifth consecutive victory and third at the Desert Stinger Classic.
Bellamy's RBI double made it 2-1 before a two-run single from Amu put the Cougars ahead, 3-2, in the third.
Robyn Alvara and
Sarah Quiambao then drew consecutive walks to load the bases before Hoenisch scored Amu with an RBI single to left field.
Rodriguez cleared the bases with two-out, three-run base hit. She would score on a wild pitch to push CSUSM's lead to 8-2.
MSUB got one back in its turn at the plate with an RBI single from Brittney Sanders.
Amu's solo homerun with two outs in the top of the fourth made it 9-3. Amu now has five homeruns in her first 11 games as a Cougar.
It appeared as if MSUB would have an opportunity to cut into the lead in the fifth, as the 'Jackets loaded the bases with two outs. Bella Rovens was hit by a pitch to bring home a run, but Dagenais forced pinch-hitter Taylor Doran to groundout to end the inning with the Cougars in the lead, 9-4.
Lucatuorto led off the sixth with a walk before Bellamy singled to left center. Amu followed with a double to right center that brought home Lucatuorto to make it 10-4.
Sanders hit a one-out homerun to pull MSUB within 10-5 in the bottom off the sixth, but once again, Dagenais was able to keep MSUB off the board the rest of the frame.
Dagenais (5-2) earned the win for CSUSM, allowing 11 hits and five earned runs while walking three and striking out a pair. Wilkinson worked a perfect seventh inning for CSUSM, striking out two of the three batters she faced.
Rodriguez was 3-for-3 in game two. Bellamy went 2-for-4.
