SAN MARCOS, Calif – The No. 13 Cal State San Marcos softball team (5-2, 2-0 CCAA) opened CCAA play with a doubleheader sweep over Cal Poly Humboldt (2-8, 0-2 CCAA) on Friday afternoon at the CSUSM Softball Field. The Cougars took game one 10-4 before
Jayline Sloss tossed a two-hit shutout to lead CSUSM to a 2-0 win in the second game.
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CSUSM 10 – HUMBOLDT 4
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TOP PERFORMERS
Gianna Lombardi – 2-for-3 | 1 2B | 1 R
Jillian Albayati – 1-for-3 | 1 2B | 1 BB
Bianca Gutierrez – 1-for-3 | 2 R | 1 3B
Ryann Steiner – 1-for-2 | 1 2B | 1 RBI | 1 SF
Savannah Coyle – 1-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 R
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cougars wasted no time getting on the board, taking a 4-0 lead in the first inning. After back-to-back RBI singles by Coyle and Lombardi, Steiner took advantage of a Humboldt error to push two final runs across.
- The Jacks answered with three runs in the next frame as pinch hitter McKenna Beach knocked out a 2-RBI single to right before Micaela Harris hit an RBI single through the left side to make it 4-3 CSUSM.
- After three quiet innings, CSUSM added to its lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. After Paige Donnelly's RBI groundout to short, Morgan Salgado doubled down the line to plate a run and scored on Steiner's sacrifice fly to center field.
- Humboldt scored its final run in the sixth with a sacrifice fly by Izzy Starr.
- CSUSM tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a wild pitch and a Humboldt error.
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QUICK HITS
- CSUSM starter Savannah Coyle (2-1) collected the win after 4.1 innings in the circle, giving up three unearned runs on five hits and three walks.
- Zoe Ballen (1) picked up CSUSM's first save of the season after going 2.2 innings, allowing one run on two hits and striking out two.
- Humboldt starter Vanessa Richie (2-2) also went 4.1 innings, giving up seven runs (five earned) on eight hits and one walk.
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CSUSM 2 – HUMBOLDT 0
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TOP PERFORMERS
Jillian Albayati – 1-for-3 | 1 HR
Mackenzie Kestler – 2-for-3 | 1 R
Paige Donnelly – 1-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 BB
Jayline Sloss – 7.0 IP | 2 H | 0 R | 8 K
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HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cougars went up 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth after Kestler hit a one-out single up the middle, advanced to second on a groundout and scored on Donnelly's single though the left side.
- CSUSM got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth on Albayati's leadoff home run to center on a 2-2 count.
- CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss was two outs away from tossing a no-hitter. Izzy Starr hit a one-out blooper to left before Kristin Ingram hit a dribbler down the third-base line that stayed fair for a single.
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QUICK HITS
- Sloss (3-1) tallied a career-best eight strikeouts in her second complete-game shutout of the season.
- Humboldt starter Gaige Garcia (0-1) took the loss after 4.0 innings of work, allowing one run on four hits and one walk.
- Bianca Gutierrez has reached base safely in all seven games this season.Â
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UP NEXT
The Cougars wrap up their CCAA opening series on Saturday, Feb. 18 with a doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m.
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