SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos softball team earned a four-game split in its inaugural California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Cougars downed CSUDH 1-0 before the Toros took down CSUSM 8-7 (8 inn.) in game two on Saturday afternoon.

The teams started the day with a continuation of Friday's game two, which was halted after the eighth inning due to darkness.

The Cougars moved to 4-8 overall, 2-2 CCAA. The Toros are now 5-4 overall, 2-2 CCAA.

Friday's Game 2 Continuation
The Cougars and Toros picked up their 5-5 ballgame in the top of the ninth inning on Saturday morning. Amanda Horbasch took over for Ashley Dagenais in the circle, and struggled out of the gate.

The Toros loaded the bases with one out before Lyzette Reveles sent a grand slam over the left field wall to make it 9-5.

The score would hold and CSUDH evened the series, 1-1.

Game 1
Tayler Ybarra's walk-off RBI double helped the Cougars edge the Toros, 1-0.

Scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, Amanda Lejano singled to right field on the first pitch of frame. She gave way for Sara Langdon on the base path.

Ybarra, who had four RBI in the first two games of the series, came up with one out after Rylee Johnson struck out. The lefty sent Jamie Duran's (2-3) offering the opposite way into the left field corner, allowing the speedster Langdon to score from first.

Amanda Horbasch (3-4) allowed just two hits while striking out three and walking three. It was a solid turnaround from surrendering a grand slam during the continuation of Friday's game two.

The Cougars nearly took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Brogan Hoenisch singled up the middle with two outs and a runner on second. Caylyn Rodriguez rounded third and was sent home, but Jasmine Ruiz was able to throw her out at the dish.

Game 2
The Cougars nearly walked off again in the final game of the series, but it would be Jasmine Ruiz's three-run home run in the top of the eighth that would provide the final say for CSUDH.

Down 5-4 and down to their last out, Lejano came to bat in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third. She pounded a double into the left-centerfield gap and pinch-runner Karla Bernal scored easily to make it 5-5.

Hoenisch, who was on second base, rounded third and attempted to score the game winning run. However, Madison Murphy's throw was right on target and catcher Renee Galindo provided the tag in time to prolong the game.

Dagenais (1-4) retired the first two batters of the eighth inning, but walked Murphy and surrendered a single to Alexis Viramontes. She then got two strikes on Ruiz, but the third delivery was over the plate and Ruiz sent it over the left field fence to make it 8-5.

But the Cougars would not go away. Holly Fauria put runners on first and second with one out on a bunt-single, and Lindsay Cerulle moved the runners over with a groundout to the pitcher.

Once again down to their last out, Rodriguez singled up the middle to drive in a run and make it 8-6.

With Fauria on third and the tying run, Rodriguez, on first, Melyssa Bellamy cracked a double down the left-field line. Fauria scored easily, but Rodriguez got caught trying to go from first to third on another strong throw from Murphy.  

Analisa Nicholson handed the Toros a 2-0 lead in the top of the first with a line-drive homerun over the right centerfield fence.

The Cougars remained quiet until the bottom of the fourth. Bellamy led off with a single before Hoenisch doubled down the right field line to put runners on second and third with one out.

Lejano came up and drove a single to right field, scoring Bellamy to make it 2-1.

After Johnson struck out, Ybarra came to bat with runners on the corners with two down. CSUDH hurler Victoria Franks' (2-0) third offering was in the dirt and wide of the catcher, allowing Hoenisch to scoot home from third and make it 2-2.

Dagenais retired the first two batters in the top of the fifth, but the Toros were able to prolong the inning due to a Cougar error. The Toros loaded the bases, and Jazmyne Cortinas pounded a pitch down the left field line to score a pair and make it 4-2.

The Cougars would answer with a two-out rally of their own. Bellamy and Rodriguez had back-to-back singles to put the tying runs aboard for Robyn Alvara. Alvara, who entered the at-bat with just one hit on the season and no RBI, lined a double to the left-centerfield gap that scored Bellamy and Rodriguez to make it 4-4.

CSUSM will face Stanislaus State in a four-game series next Friday and Saturday in Turlock.