HAYWARD, Calif – The No. 6 Cal State San Marcos softball team (10-3, 7-1 CCAA) collected its second CCAA series of the season with a twinbill sweep over Cal State East Bay (11-9, 4-4 CCAA) on Saturday afternoon with wins of 3-1 and 3-2.
GAME 1: CSUSM 3 – CSUEB 1
TOP PERFORMERS
Gianna Lombardi – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 HR
Bianca Gutierrez – 2-for-3 | 1 R
Paige Donnelly – 1-for-3 | 1 R | 1 RBI
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After leading off the first with a double to left center, Sarah Duran scored on an Adriana Martinez single up the middle to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.
- The Cougars finally got on the board in the top of the fourth on Donnelly's RBI single up the middle and a two-run homer by Lombardi that went over the left field wall.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM starter Savannah Coyle (4-1) tossed a complete game, allowing one run on five hits and one walk.
- CSUEB starter Anamaria Beard (6-4) picked up the loss after relinquishing three runs on five hits while striking out seven batters.
- Lombardi's home run was her first of the season and fifth of her collegiate career.
- Jillian Albayati saw her hit streak come to an end at nine games.
- Lombardi's home run was the only extra-base hit by the Cougars in the game while the Pioneer tallied two doubles.
GAME 2: CSUSM 3 – CSUEB 2
TOP PERFORMERS
Aneesa Arredondo – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs
Madison Waymire – 1-for-4 | 1 R
Makenzie Guiliano – 1-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 BB
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Cougars got on the board first in the second inning on a Guiliano RBI single that plated Jillian Albayati who led off the inning with a walk.
- The Pioneers evened the game at 1-all in the bottom of the fourth on Adriana Martinez's home run.
- The Cougars began the sixth with a Waymire double and a Lombardi walk. With two outs on the board, Arredondo drove in both runners on a single to right to put CSUSM back on top 3-1.
- The Pioneers threatened in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out RBI single by Garcia to make it 3-2. Game-one starter Savannah Coyle came in to get the final out, forcing a groundout to pick up her first save of the season.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss (4-2) recorded the win after 6.0 innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out five.
- Pioneer starter Keira Cahalan (2-3) collected the loss after giving up three runs on six hits and three walks in 7.0 innings of work.
- Gutierrez has reached base in all 13 games this season and has a nine-game hitting streak alive.
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH STEF EWING
"We battled a very good East Bay team through four hard-fought games to take the series. We played well in all facets of the game. The pitchers did a great job keeping their hitters off balance, and the defense continues to shine. Offensively, we showed steady improvement and created a lot of opportunities."
UP NEXT
The Cougars return home next week for a four-game series against Chico State beginning on Friday, March 3 at noon.