IRVINE, Calif. - The Cal State San Marcos softball team dropped both ends of a non-conference doubleheader against Concordia University Irvine, Saturday at Eagles Field. The Cougars were defeated by scores of 7-3 in game one and 3-0 in game two.
The Eagles improve to 27-10-2. CSUSM is now 7-26.
The Cougars will return to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play when they host Chico State, Friday and Saturday, April 7-8. Action Friday will begin at 1 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m. The first 50 fans in attendance on Friday will receive a free CSUSM Athletics umbrella.
Game One - Concordia University Irvine 7, Cal State San Marcos 3
CSUSM scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as CUI prevailed 7-3. Eagle pitcher Grayson Harvey (13-4) earned the win with no runs in five innings of work. Freshman pitcher
Cheyenne Alvarez (2-4) was tagged with the loss. Freshman outfielder
Sara Whelehon had two hits and one run. Freshman infielder
April Perez compiled one hit and two RBI.
The Eagles put up four runs in the bottom of the third that included a three-run homer by Amanda Gjertsen. Gjertsen struck again in the fourth inning with a two-RBI single. A failed pickoff attempt led to an Eagle run in the bottom of the fifth as CUI took a 7-0 lead.
The Cougars made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore infielder
Amanda Lejano reached on a fielder's choice then Whelehon and junior
Karla Bernal, who came in to pinch hit, singled in consecutive at bats to load the bases. Roman hit one up the middle to score Lejano and Whelehon. Freshman infielder
Mackenzie Fannin hit into a fielder's choice in the next at bat to plate Bernal as CSUSM made it a 7-3 game, but could not get anything after that.
Game Two - Concordia University Irvine 3, Cal State San Marcos 0
CUI pitchers BethAnn McCann and Gjertsen combined for a shutout as CSUSM fell 3-0. McCann (11-3) threw six innings and struck out two to earn the win. Gjertsen pitched the seventh inning and was credited with the save. Senior pitcher
Ashley Dagenais (1-11) threw six innings.
Gjertsen, who started off as the designated player for the Eagles, hit a two-RBI single in the first inning. McKinsey Thorpe lined a one-run single up the middle to account for the final score of the game.
