LA MIRADA, Calif. – The No. 8 Cal State San Marcos softball team lost a heartbreaker in game two to drop both ends of a doubleheader 6-0 and 9-8 at No. 16 Biola University's Freedom Field on Saturday.
The Cougars drop to 22-9 overall, while the Eagles improve to 26-10 overall.
Brogan Hoenisch went 2-for-5 with two RBI, two walks and a run scored, including a two-run triple in the fourth inning of game two that gave CSUSM their first lead of the day.
Caylyn Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with one RBI, a run scored and was hit by a pitch.
Game 1The CSUSM offense was silenced in game one, managing only three singles and striking out 13 times in the 6-0 loss.
The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the second, turning a leadoff double, a bunt single and a base hit into an early 1-0 lead.
BU added to their lead in the bottom of the third with another double and three base hits, plating three more runs for a 4-0 lead.
A one-out single by
Naomi Amu in the top of the fifth and a two-out base hit for Rodriguez put runners on first and second for the Cougars, but they were unable to capitalize.
In the bottom of the sixth, a two-out error and three straight singles allowed Biola to add two unearned runs and increase their lead to 6-0.
Biola starter Reba DePriest threw the complete game shutout, facing 28 batters.
Katie Wilkinson pitched well in relief, striking out four in four innings, including striking out the side in the fifth.
Game 2The Cougar offense fared much better in game two, cranking out nine hits and taking a three-run lead into the bottom of the sixth. But Biola scored four in the bottom of the frame leading to a 9-8 loss for CSUSM.
The hot hitting continued for BU in game two, as the Eagles scored four runs in the bottom of the first before recording an out. The runs were courtesy of a pair of doubles and a home run.
Ashley Dagenais entered for starter Wilkinson and after hitting a batter settled in nicely to retire the side.
The Cougar bats came to life in the top of the second.
Olivia Lucatuorto drew a walk to lead off the inning and
Brogan Hoenisch followed with a double to left. Devon Vanderhoff opened the scoring for the Cougars with a groundout to third that scored Lucatuorto, bringing the score to 4-1 Biola.
Sarah Quiambao singled to right and
Tayler Ybarra walked to load the bases for Rodriguez. A wild pitch allowed Hoenisch to score from third, cutting the Biola lead to 4-2. Rodriguez tacked on another run for CSUSM with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Quiambao to make it a 4-3 ballgame.
Holly Fauria singled and Amu was walked intentionally to load the bases for the second time in the inning, but CSUSM was unable to bring in another run.
BU added another run with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the second, increasing their lead to 5-3.
In the top if the fourth, Rodriguez hit a one-out singled to center. Amu was walked intentionally and
Robyn Alvara was hit by a pitch to load the bases yet again. A balk allowed all three runners to advance and the Cougars trailed 5-4.
Lucatourto drove 3-2 pitch to left to score Amu and tie up the game 5-5.
Hoenisch tripled to clear the bases and give the Cougars their first lead of the day at 7-5.
The Eagles mounted a small rally in the bottom of the fifth, getting a one-out double and an infield single to put runners at first and second. But Vanderhoff snared a groundball at third, stepped on the bag and snapped the ball to first for a double play to end the threat.
Fauria led off the top of the sixth with a bunt single and moved to second on a base hit by Amu. An Alvara sacrifice bunt advanced both runners. An error on a Lucatuorto groundball to shortstop allowed Fauria to score and the Cougar lead increased to 8-5.
BU regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth. A two-on, one-out double drove in the first run of the inning for the Eagles, dropping the Cougar lead to 8-6. A ground ball by Heather Hall led to a throwing error that added two unearned runs for the Eagles and tied the game at 8-8 with a runner on second. A single to center brought in the runner, giving Biola a 9-8 lead.
The Cougars return to the field on Tuesday, March 31 with a doubleheader at Concordia (Calif.). First pitch for game one is 2 p.m.
