IRVINE, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos softball team wrapped up the Concordia University Irvine Kickoff Classic with a 9-1 mercy-rule win over Holy Names to finish with a 4-1 record in its opening weekend. This is the Cougars' best start in the NCAA Division II era (2015-present).

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Savannah Coyle - Tournament MVP
Paige Donnelly

CSUSM 9 - HNU 1
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Savannah Coyle – 2 IP | 6 K | 1 H | 0 R | 1 BB | 2-for-3 | 1 R
Jayline Sloss – 3 IP | 2 H | 1 R | 0 ER | 2 K | 1 BB
Nikki Andelin – 1-for-2 | 2 R | 1 RBI | 1 2B
Ryann Steiner – 2-for-3 | 3 RBIs
Gianna Lombardi – 2-for-2 | 1 R
Rachel Jardim – 1-for-1 | 1 R | 1 2B

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In the bottom of the first, the Cougars loaded the bases after Bianca Gutierrez drew a walk, Andelin reached on an error and Coyle singled to the shortstop with no outs. Steiner launched a 2-RBI single to the left corner. After Lombardi knocked out a Texas Leaguer behind the third baseman to load the bases once again, Coyle scored on Jackie Ramirez's fielder's choice to put CSUSM up 3-0.
• The Hawks began the top of the second inning with a single by Aly Cerda that brought her home after a CSUSM error.
• The Cougars bounced back with Gutierrez leading off the second with a single and scored on Andelin's double to right center. Following a HNU pitching change, CSUSM wasted no time jumping on the new pitcher as Steiner drove in Andelin with a single through the left side and Lombardi laid one up the middle. HNU once again went to its bullpen which CSUSM answered with three more runs after a bases-loaded walk, an RBI single by Mayca Brown and a wild pitch to make it 8-1 Cougars.
• After a scoreless third inning, the Cougars knocked in their final run in the fourth to enforce the mercy rule after the top of the fifth. Rachel Jardim doubled to left center and scored on Klarissa Munoz's groundout to the shortstop to raise CSUSM's lead to 9-1.
   

QUICK HITS

• In their second appearance in the CUI Kickoff Classic, the Cougars had the second-best record of the tournament. Concordia University Irvine was the only team to go undefeated at 5-0 and was crowned Tournament Champions.
• CSUSM's run differential in the tournament was +22 after scoring 32 runs in 33 innings and allowing only 10 over 35.1 innings.
• Coyle tallied a team-best 10 hits on the weekend, finishing with a double and a triple while plating three runs.
• With the victory, CSUSM moves to 11-1 in the all-time series against the Hawks. The Cougars have recorded five shutouts and allowed 16 runs while scoring 85 times in their 12 meetings with HNU.
• Nine of the 10 CCAA schools competed in the tournament, going 31-16 while the PacWest went 13-22 and the GNAC comprised a 13-22 record. 

 
THOUGHTS FROM CSUSM HEAD COACH STEF EWING
"This was an awesome start to our season. We came out on day one and said we wanted to be relentless. That is what our goal is this whole season. This team came out from the first pitch on Friday and have done nothing but continue to go after it game after game. From coming back in the Azusa Pacific game to tie it late and go into extra innings, to just really coming out and swinging the bats. Our pitchers did a great job of keeping us in the games, and we played some really solid defense. This is a great start for us. It has been a long break. We have been ready. I am really happy to see the girls come out and watch them play like this this weekend."
 
UP NEXT
The Cougars make their 2022 home debut this Friday when they host Azusa Pacific in a doubleheader beginning at noon.