CARSON, Calif. - The Cal State San Marcos softball team split a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) doubleheader against Cal State Dominguez Hills, Friday at Toro Diamond. The Toros took game one by a score of 1-0, but the Cougars responded with a dominant 9-1 triumph in six innings.
With the split, CSUSM is now 10-36 overall and 9-28 in the CCAA. CSUDH now sports an 8-43 overall record and 6-32 record in conference play.
The Cougars will conclude their 2017 campaign on Saturday, April 29 with another doubleheader against the Toros. Action is set to begin at noon.
Game One - Cal State Dominguez Hills 1, Cal State San Marcos 0
CSUSM allowed the lone CSUDH run of the game in the bottom of the sixth and could not take advantage with two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the seventh, falling by a final score of 1-0.
Senior pitcher
Amanda Horbasch (5-12) went six innings with four strikeouts. Toro pitcher Alyssa Valinches (1-2) earned the win in seven innings of work with two strikeouts. Senior outfielder
Holly Fauria, junior outfielder
Lindsay Cerulle, freshman outfielder
Sara Whelehon, junior catcher
Karla Bernal and sophomore infielder
Amanda Lejano recorded one hit apiece.
The Toros scored in the bottom of the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly from Kendell Messersmith.
The Cougars had a golden opportunity in the top of the third. Lejano singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Langdon. Fauria and Cerulle hit back-to-back singles to load the bases, but CSUSM couldn't get any runs through.
The Cougars had another chance to score in the top of the seventh. Bernal started the inning with a single to get on base. Langdon was able to force a CSUDH error as Bernal went from first to third. Langdon stole second as CSUSM had two runners in scoring position, but couldn't capitalize on the opportunity.
Game Two - Cal State San Marcos 9, Cal State Dominguez Hills 1 (6 inn.)
CSUSM scored five runs in the first inning and never looked back, defeating CSUDH 9-1 in six innings.
Senior pitcher
Ashley Dagenais (3-16) earned the win, giving up one earned run in six innings of work with two strikeouts. The loss went to Toro pitcher Sharie Albert (3-22). Freshman infielder
Mackenzie Fannin amassed two hits, three runs and two RBI. Freshman infielder
April Perez went a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with two RBI. Horbasch compiled two hits and two runs.
The Cougars started the game on fire with a monstrous first inning. Fauria drew a walk, took second on a wild pitch, stole third while Cerulle drew a walk, and then stole home. After that Horbasch singled to get Cerulle to second. Both runners advanced one base on a wild pitch and Fannin induced a fielder's choice in the next at bat with a bunt to bring in Cerulle. Horbasch scored on Bernal's RBI bunt single and Fannin touched home plate on Lejano's RBI groundout. CSUSM got its last run of the frame on a single from Perez as Bernal came in.
The Cougars took advantage of two CSUDH errors in the top of the third for two runs to take a 7-0 lead. Fannin singled and advanced to second on the Toros' first error of the inning. Lejano was hit by a pitch as CSUSM put two runners on. Fannin was plated on Perez's RBI single and Lejano scored after Fauria was able to force CSUDH's second error of the frame.
The Toros scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third with a RBI groundout from Messersmith.
The Cougars put up two more runs in the top of the sixth. Horbasch singled and came all the way in on Fannin's double. Fannin was able to come home on a RBI groundout from freshman infielder
Karen Roman to account for the final score.
