SAN MARCOS, Calif. - The Cal State San Marcos softball team dropped both games of a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) doubleheader to No. 13 Chico State by scores of 6-0 and 4-3, Friday at CSUSM Softball Field.
The Cougars fall to 7-28 overall and 6-20 in conference play. The Wildcats improve to 27-6 overall and 17-5 in the CCAA.
Both teams will play another doubleheader on Saturday, April 8 at 11 a.m. to conclude the four-game series.
Game One - Chico State 6, Cal State San Marcos 0
Chico State pitcher Haley Gilham (15-2) threw a complete game shutout to defeat CSUSM 6-0. Senior pitcher
Amanda Horbasch (4-8) took the loss in 3.1 inning with four strikeouts. Freshman pitcher
Cheyenne Alvarez came in relief for the last 3.2 frames and struck out two. Senior infielder
Holly Fauria, junior outfielder
Sara Langdon, Horbasch, junior outfielder
Lindsay Cerulle and freshman
Melody Forstie, who came in to pinch hit, had one hit each.
The Wildcats scored two runs apiece in the third, fourth and seventh innings. Ari Marsh and Gilham hit RBI doubles in consecutive at bats to give Chico State a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the top of the fourth and drew back-to-back walks to plate two more for a 4-0 advantage. In the top of the seventh, Cailin Garmon scorched a 2-RBI triple to right field to account for the final score of the game.
Game Two - Chico State 4, Cal State San Marcos 3
CSUSM outhit Chico State 9-7, but came up short and fell by a score of 4-3. Wildcat pitcher Samantah Mulock (9-4) earned the win as she gave up three runs in five innings. Lynea Klemmendson came in relief for the last two frames and earned the save. Senior pitcher
Ashley Dagenais (1-12) threw all seven innings, gave up four runs (three earned) and struck out five.
Junior outfielder
Karla Bernal went 3-for-4 from the plate with one run and two RBI. Horbasch had two hits and Cerulle compiled two runs.
The Cougars struck in the first inning. Cerulle drew a walk and advanced to second on Horbasch's single. An RBI single by Bernal plated Cerulle as CSUSM took the early lead.
Chico State responded in the top of the second. With the bases loaded, Kristin Worley was hit by a pitch. Megan Bowley lined a RBI single up the middle in the next at bat to give the Wildcats a 2-1 advantage.
The Wildcats took a 4-1 lead with two more runs in the top of the fourth. The Cougars made it a two-run game in the bottom of the fourth as freshman infielder
Karen Roman plated Bernal on a bunt.
Bernal struck for an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth to cut the margin to one. CSUSM was able to get runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't capitalize and fell to Chico State.
