SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos softball team hits the road for a non-conference doubleheader at Concordia (Calif.) before hosting its home opener on Sunday vs. St. Martin's.

The Schedule
Games 5 & 6
Friday, February 5 – 1 p.m.
Cal State San Marcos (2-2) at Concordia (Calif.) (0-0)
Irvine, Calif. – Eagles Field
Live Stats | Live Video

Games 7 & 8
Sunday, February 7 – 11 a.m.
St. Martin's (0-0) at CSUSM
San Marcos, Calif. – CSUSM Softball Field
Live Stats | Live Video

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Opening Week Recap
The Cougars swept their season-opening doubleheader at Vanguard on Friday, 5-3 and 7-5 behind a 3-for-6, three RBI performance by Tayler Ybarra and a pair of solid pitching performances from Ashley Dagenais and Amanda Horbasch. Unfortunately, the Cougars followed that performance by getting swept at Cal Baptist on Saturday via run-rule, 16-3 and 8-0.

New Faces Step Up in Week One
The Cougars received significant contributions from a trio of new faces on opening weekend. Freshman Rylee Johnson started all four games at third base while going 3-for-8 with a pair of doubles. Fellow freshman Amanda Lejano started at second base and also went 3-for-8 while scoring two runs. Junior transfer Amanda Horbasch combined to go 3-for-9 with three RBI and won her first start with a complete-game performance in Friday's game two.

Concordia Preview
All-time vs. CUI: 8-13 (.381)

Last Time Out: L, 4-7 (May 12, 2015); The Cougars fell in their final game as a NAIA institution to CUI last season. CSUSM and CUI met in the NAIA Opening Round in Irvine, where the Eagles jumped out to a 6-1 lead after four innings. The Cougars scored three runs in the sixth inning, but could not crawl all the way back.

CUI Breakdown: CUI's season opener was cancelled last week due to weather, so Friday's showdown will be the first competition of the year for the Eagles. The Eagles, also in their first season of NCAA Division II Candidacy, were picked to finish sixth in the PacWest Preseason Coaches' Poll.

St. Martin's Preview
All-time vs. SM: Sunday will be the first meeting between the teams.

SM Breakdown: The Saints are heading to Southern California to begin the 2016 season and will debut on Saturday against San Diego Christian. St. Martin's has been picked to finish second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll following a 41-20 2015 season.

The Nevarez File
Head coach Laurie Nevarez is in her third season at the helm of the Cougars in 2016. Hired in 2014, Nevarez has put together a 75-27-1 (.733) record in her first two years while mentoring 13 all-conference selections. Over her 12-year head coaching career, Nevarez has put together a 394-143-2 (.733) overall record. Prior to her time at CSUSM, Nevarez coached NCAA Division III Redlands for 10 seasons.


New Territory
After nine seasons of competition in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Cougars enter their first season of NCAA Division II competition in 2015-16. CSUSM is currently in the second year of a three-year transition to full NCAA Division II membership. As a part of the transition, the Cougars will be ineligible for postseason play in 2016 and 2017.

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