SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos softball team opened the day with an 8-0 run-ruled California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) victory over Humboldt State before dropping a hard-fought 12-9 decision in the nightcap on Friday at CSUSM Softball Field.
 
GAME 1: CSUSM 8 – HSU 0 (6 inn.)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Gianna Lombardi – 3-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 2B
Cherise Horita – 2-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 2 2B |
Nikki Andelin – 2-for-4 | 2 R | 1 RBI
Mayca Brown – 1-for-1 | 1 R
Zoe Ballen – 4.0 IP | 2 H | 0 R | 1 K | 1 BB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars broke through in the bottom of the fourth with two runs. Lombardi and Andrea Wood hit back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Abby Callais' sacrifice fly plated Lombardi, and pinch hitter Brittney Scardina knocked in Wood's pinch runner Klarissa Munoz on a single to second base.
• CSUSM extended its lead to 3-0 on Lombardi's RBI double to left field that scored Nikki Andelin after she began the inning with a single to right center.
• The Cougars' bats exploded in the bottom of the sixth, notching five runs on six hits and one HSU error that ended the game due to the run rule. Brown singled, Callais reached on an error and Emily Paredez laid down a bunt single to load the bases. Kayla Mack and Andelin hit back-to-back RBI singles before Horita pushed a 2-RBI double through the right side. Lombardi's RBI single to right ended the game at 8-0.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM improves to 3-3 (1-0 CCAA) while HSU falls to 1-3 (0-1 CCAA).
• Ballen (3-1) tossed a two-hit shutout for her third win of the season, tallying one strikeout and walking only one batter.
• HSU's Taylor Culp (0-1) recorded the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) on nine hits in five innings in the circle.
• This marks the second time CSUSM has defeated HSU in program history. 

 
 
GAME 2: HSU 12 – CSUSM 9
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Melody Forstie – 2-for-3 | 3 R | 1 RBI | 1 SB | HBP
Abby Callais – 2-for-2 | 3 RBIs | 1 SAC | 1 SB
Cherise Horita – 1-for-4 | 1 HR | 2 R | 1 RBI
Bianca Gutierrez – 2-for-4 | 1 R
 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM once again got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second on Callais' 2-RBI single up the middle.
• The Cougars got out of a bases-loaded jam with a 5-2-3 double play in the top of the third.
• Horita blasted her first collegiate home run to lead off the bottom of the third to make it 3-0.
• HSU's offense woke up in the top of the fourth, scoring six runs on five hits that included a Danica Grier 3-RBI double to left center.
• The Cougars answered with five runs to take an 8-6 lead in the bottom of the fourth that included four hits, three walks, three stolen bases, a wild pitch and a hit by pitch.
• The Jacks scored on a CSUSM error in the top of the fifth to make it 8-7.
• HSU retook the lead from the Cougars in the top of the sixth with back-to-back doubles by Mariah Kalamaras and Chloe Koll to make it a 10-8 ballgame.  
• CSUSM made it a one-run game on Andelin's bases-loaded ground out in the bottom of the sixth.
• The Jacks clinched the win at 12-9 with two runs on four hits in the top of the seventh.

 
QUICK HITS

• The Cougars drop to 3-4 (1-1 CCAA) while HSU moves to 2-3 (1-1 CCAA).
• Carly Slack (0-1) took the loss after 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits.
• HSU's Megan Holt (2-1) collected the win in relief, giving up two runs on two hits and walking six batters.

 
THOUGHTS FROM CSUSM HEAD COACH STEF EWING
"Our bats came alive today and it was great to see us own it at the plate. We are going to make some adjustments for tomorrow and come out to be better on defense and in the circle. It is going to be fun to watch this team as we put all the pieces together."
 
UP NEXT
The Cougars wrap up the series against Humboldt State with a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m. at the CSUSM Softball Field.