SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos softball team matched San Francisco State with 26 hits on the day, but fell in both ends of Friday's doubleheader, 8-3 and 10-4, in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action at CSUSM Softball Field.
 
The Cougars stranded 23 runners while the Gators only left 19 on base.
 
Senior Melyssa Bellamy had a solid day at the plate, going 4-for-6 with two runs. Senior Brogan Hoenisch tallied a team-best five hits including two doubles while driving in two runs and plating once.
 
CSUSM will conclude its four-game series with the Gators with an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Saturday, March 26. Prior to the first pitch, five Cougar seniors – Bellamy, Hoenisch, Caylyn Rodriguez, Robyn Alvara and Tayler Ybarra, will be honored.
 
Game 1: SF State 8 – CSUSM 3
The Cougars grabbed an early 1-0 lead after Rodriguez led off with a single up the middle, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and later scored on a wild pitch in the first inning.
 
SF State posted three consecutive single run innings to take the lead away from the Cougars, 3-1.
 
CSUSM closed the gap to 3-2 in the sixth after Hoenisch led off with a double to center field and scored on Rodriguez's single through the right side.
 
The Gators sent 10 batters to the plate in their turn in the eighth to raise their lead to 8-2.
 
Hoenisch drove in CSUSM's final run in the seventh on a bases-loaded single through the left side.
 
Junior Ashley Dagenais took the loss after tossing a complete game.
 
Game 2: SF State 10 – CSUSM 4
The Cougars found themselves down 4-0 after a strong first inning by the Gators, highlighted by Marisa Andrade 3 RBI double.
 
The Gators knocked in three more runs in the fourth that included a two-run homer by Chelsea Brent.
 
CSUSM's scored its first run of the game in the bottom half of the frame. Bellamy singled up the middle and moved 60 feet on a wild pitch. Hoenisch's single through the left side put runners at the corners. Ybarra's hit got past the diving Gator second baseman, enabling Bellamy to score.
 
Junior Amanda Horbasch led off the fifth with a double off the left field wall. After a sacrifice bunt by junior Holly Fauria, Horbasch plated on Rodriguez's single up the middle to make it 7-2 Gators.
 
Pinch hitter Katie Trezona gave the Gators a 10-2 lead after crushing a three-run homer to left center.
 
The Cougars weren't going to go quietly into the night, adding two more runs in their final frame by putting together four hits including a Hoenisch RBI double.