CARSON, Calif. – The No. 4 Cal State San Marcos softball team (34-6, 23-5 CCAA) dropped a pair of close games at Cal State Dominguez Hills on Saturday afternoon by scores of 3-2 (8 inn.) and 5-4 at Toro Diamond.

GAME 1: CSUSM 2 – CSUDH 3 (8 inn.)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 1-for-3 | 1 R | 1 RBI 
Bianca Gutierrez – 2-for-4 
Nikki Andelin – 2-for-3 | 1 R
Gianna Lombardi – 2-for-3 | 1 RBI
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars put up two runs on the board in the top of the fourth after Andelin led off the inning with a single up the middle and scored on Donnelly's triple to right center. Lombardi's single through the left side plated Donnelly to make it 2-0.
• The Toros evened the game at 2-all in bottom of the frame on a single by Kaylee Hull and a double by Maiya Lopez.
• CSUSM got out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and second and no outs. Ballen recorded a strikeout before Lombardi converted an unassisted double play with a line out and tagging the runner at second.
• With two outs, the Toros recorded four consecutive singles with Dafne Bravo hitting the game winner up the middle.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUDH starter Ashley Wies (16-4) earned the win after tossing a complete game, giving up two runs on eight hits while striking out six.
• CSUSM reliever Zoe Ballen (5-2) collected the loss after going 3.2 innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three.
• Gutierrez's two hits raised her multi-hit games total to a team-leading 17 and extended her reached-base streak to eight games.  

 
GAME 2: CSUSM 4 – CSUDH 5
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 3-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 2 2B | 1 R | 1 SB
Nikki Andelin – 1-for-4 | 1 R
Bianca Gutierrez – 1-for-4 | 1 3B | 1 R
Gianna Lombardi – 1-for-4 | 1 RBI
Makenzie Guiliano – 1-for-2 | 1 R | 1 SB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM took a 1-0 lead in the first frame after Gutierrez led off the game with a triple down the right line and later scored on Donnelly's double to left center.
• The Cougars added another run in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. With Salgado on first and Donnelly on third, CSUSM completed a double steal after the pair reached base on a single and double, respectively.
• With no outs in the bottom of the fourth and runners on second and third, the CSUSM defense converted a double play while keeping the runner on third. Starting pitcher Jayline Sloss collected a strikeout to end the threat.
• After a pair of singles put Guiliano and Andelin at the corners, Donnelly and Lombardi hit back-to-back RBI singles up the middle to double CSUSM's lead to 4-0.
• CSUDH got on the board in the fifth, scoring on a single up the middle by Alex Davis to make it 4-1 CSUSM.
• The Toros took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning on a fielder's choice, wild pitch and error.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUDH reliever Ashley Wies (17-4) got the win after tossing 2.0 shutout innings and allowing just one hit.
• Sloss (12-2) recorded the loss, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits and three walks.
• CSUSM converted four double plays in the game, tying for the most this season in Division II with Chaminade (vs. Holy Names on March 13).
• Donnelly notched her team-leading fourth 3-hit game of the season.
• With her two doubles in her first two at bats, Donnelly raised her season total to 15 and is tied for first alongside CSUDH's Kianna Abellera in the CCAA.
• Gutierrez's triple to lead off the game extended her reached-base streak to nine games, one shy of her previous record.

UP NEXT
The No. 4 Cougars will conclude their home regular-season schedule next week by hosting Cal State Monterey Bay in a four-game series beginning on Friday.