CARSON, Calif. - The Cal State San Marcos softball team wrapped up its 2017 campaign by taking both games of a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) doubleheader, Saturday at Toro Diamond. CSUSM triumphed by scores of 6-3 in game one and 3-2 in the season finale.
The Cougars conclude their season with a 12-36 overall record and an 11-28 conference record. The Toros wrap up their year at 8-45 overall and 6-34 in the CCAA.
Seniors
Breanna Fulton,
Ashley Dagenais,
Holly Fauria,
Meagan Esteban and
Amanda Horbasch participated in their final games representing CSUSM.
Game One - Cal State San Marcos 6, Cal State Dominguez Hills 3
With the game even at 2-2, CSUSM scored four runs in the top of the six and hung on to defeat CSUDH by a final score of 6-3.
Dagenais (4-16) earned the win after throwing all seven innings. Toro pitcher Alyssa Valinches (1-3) took the loss. Freshman designated player
April Perez compiled two hits, including a home run, two runs and three RBI. Freshman outfielder
Sara Whelehon finished with two runs and junior catcher
Karla Bernal amassed one hit and one run.
The Cougars got the scoring started in the second inning. Whelehon reached on a CSUDH error and Perez hit her first career home run over the center field wall as CSUSM took a two-run advantage. The Toros would get one run apiece in the bottom of the second and third to tie the score.
The Cougars got back on top with four runs in the top of the sixth. Whelehon got on base due to a CSUDH error for the second time, stole second and came home on Perez's double. Bernal singled in the next at bat and took second on the throw as Perez reached third. Both runners scored on freshman infielder
Mackenzie Fannin's bunt. Fannin scored later in the frame on a RBI groundout from Fauria as CSUSM took a 6-2 lead. The Toros got one run in the bottom of the sixth, but nothing more as the Cougars hung on for the win.
Game Two - Cal State San Marcos 3, Cal State Dominguez Hills 2
CSUSM came back from two runs down to earn a 3-2 win over CSUDH in the final game of the season.
Horbasch (6-12) got the win with seven innings pitched and two strikeouts. She also had two hits and one RBI from the plate. Fauria compiled one hit and one run.
A sacrifice fly from Kendelle Messersmith in the first inning and a RBI triple by Lyzette Revelez in the second frame put the Cougars down 2-0. CSUSM responded in the top of the fourth with two runs to tie the game. Fauria singled to lead off and advanced to second as junior outfielder
Lindsay Cerulle drew a walk. Fauria stole third and came in on a groundout from junior outfielder
Sara Langdon. Cerulle eventually scored on Horbasch's RBI single to center field.
The Cougars pulled it out in the top of the seventh. Perez doubled to start the inning and was lifted for freshman pinch runner
Melody Forstie. Whelehon induced a Toro throwing error on a sacrifice bunt as Forstie rounded third and into home for the go-ahead run. CSUSM made it interesting in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs, the Cougars gave up a single to Damari Simon and made a fielding error on a ball hit by Analisa Nicholson. With the game-tying run on third and the game-winning run on first, Horbasch forced a groundout to end the game.
