ARCATA, Calif. – The No. 8 Cal State San Marcos softball team (38-8, 27-7 CCAA) clinched its first CCAA Regular-Season Championship Title in program history with a sweep over Cal Poly Humboldt (13-36, 6-26 CCAA) on Friday and Sonoma State's 9-8 eight-inning victory at Chico State in the nightcap. The Cougars mercy-ruled the Jacks in the series opener, 9-1, before pulling off a dramatic, nine-inning 3-2 victory in the nightcap. 

GAME 1: CSUSM 9 – HUM 1 (5 inn.)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Bianca Gutierrez – 2-for-4 | 2 RBIs
Gianna Lombardi – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 2 R | 1 HR
Ryann Steiner – 1-for-2 | 2 RBIs | 2 R | 1 HR
Nikki Andelin – 2-for-4 | 1 R
Savannah Coyle – 5.0 IP | 1 H | 1 R | 0 ER | 4 K | 1 BB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. Gutierrez's knocked an RBI single up the middle that plated Sammie Olivo, who was pinch running for Kayla Mack after she was awarded first following a hit-by-pitch to begin the inning.
• The Jacks evened the game at 1-1 on a CSUSM error in the bottom of the frame.
• Steiner and Lombardi hit back-to-back home runs to begin the fourth to put CSUSM back on top at 3-1.
• CSUSM starting pitcher Savannah Coyle held the Jacks hitless until the fourth inning when Izzy Star sliced a single through the left side with one out on the board.
• In the fifth, the Cougars scored six runs on two hits and five walks (two with the bases loaded) to take a 9-1 lead.
• Coyle retired the side in the bottom of the fifth with a pop up, a strikeout looking and a groundout to end the game due to the mercy rule.

 
QUICK HITS

• Coyle (16-3) collected the win after tossing a five-inning complete game, allowing just one unearned run on one hit while striking out four and walking one.
• Jacks' starter Karen Di Dio recorded the loss after four innings in the circle, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out one.
• Gutierrez registered her 20th multi-hit game and her 18th with a pair of hits. She also extended her hit streak to nine and reached-base streak to a team-high 14 games.

 
GAME 2: CSUSM 3 – HUM 2 (9 inn.)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 BB | 1 HR
Bianca Gutierrez – 2-for-4 | 1 SAC
Gianna Lombardi – 2-for-4  
Nikki Andelin – 1-for-3 | 1 R
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars broke up the scoreless tie in the top of the seventh with a double steal by Andelin and Makenzie Guiliano. Andelin later scored on a Donnelly RBI single through the left side.
• In the bottom of the frame with runners on second and third, Humboldt's Izzy Starr hit a double to center that plated one run before the second run was initially called out at the plate and would have ended the game at 2-1. The umpires met and ended up reversing the decision to safe to even the game at 2-all.
• Coyle, pitching in relief, forced a pop up to push the game into extra innings.
• Donnelly hit a solo home run to left field to put CSUSM back on top at 3-2 with one out in the ninth.
• With the bases loaded and one out, Savannah Coyle forced a pop up to first in foul territory and a groundout to second to end the game and complete the sweep.

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Zoe Ballen tossed 5.1 shutout innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out two.
• Coyle (17-3) snagged her second win of the day after going 3.2 innings in the circle, relinquishing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out three.
• Jacks' starter Emily Adams went the entire nine innings, giving up three runs on 11 hits and four walks while collecting four strikeouts.
• Gutierrez registered her 21st multi-hit game and her 19th with a pair of hits.
• Gutierrez matched her team-best hitting streak set earlier this season of 10 games while extending her reached-base streak to a team-high 15.
• Donnelly also has a streak alive of reaching base in 14 consecutive games.

UP NEXT
The No. 8 Cougars will conclude regular-season play tomorrow against the Jacks with a doubleheader. The twinbill was originally set to begin at 11 but due to rain in the forecast, the start time has been moved back to noon.