SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 5 Cal State San Marcos softball (10-3, 7-1 CCAA) will continue CCAA play this weekend when the Cougars host Chico State (7-5, 2-2 CCAA) in a four-game series starting with a doubleheader on Friday, March 3 at 12 p.m. before concluding with Saturday's twinbill at 11 a.m. 

LAST TIME OUT

• The Cougars won their second CCAA series last weekend, taking three of four at Cal State East Bay. 
• CSUSM split Friday's doubleheader, taking game one 5-3 before a late rally came up short resulting in a 5-4 loss. 
• The Cougars swept the Pioneers in Saturday's twinbill, 3-1 and 3-2. 
• Savannah Coyle was named CCAA Pitcher of the Week (see below). 

BY THE NUMBERS

• The Cougars slid up one spot to No. 5 in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll. 
• The CSUSM-CSUEB series was one of two CCAA series that played all four games last weekend. Cal State San Bernardino dropped a 3-1 series at Cal State Monterey Bay who has a complete turf field. 
• The Cougars' .412 slugging percentage is the second highest in the CCAA. 
• CSUSM has accumulated a .297 batting average, third highest in the CCAA. 
• The Cougars have turned five double plays in 13 games, ranking second in the CCAA and 43rd in the nation. 
• CSUSM's 19 doubles ranks third in the CCAA. 
• Bianca Gutierrez, who has reached base safely in all 13 games this season, is posting the team's highest batting average at .372. 
• Gutierrez, with a team-high nine-game hitting streak on the line, is the second most-difficult hitter to strikeout in the CCAA and 14th in toughest in Division II. 
• Jayline Sloss has tallied two of CSUSM's shutouts, ranking her 22nd in the nation. 
• Jillian Albayati is the CCAA slugging percentage leader at .786. 
• Albayati ranks fourth in the CCAA averaging 0.36 doubles per game.  

 

GAMES 14-17 | CHICO STATE
Date	Friday, March 3 - Saturday, March 4
Times	March 3 - 12 p.m. (DH) March 4 - 11 a.m. (DH)
Location	San Marcos, Calif.
Venue	CSUSM Softball Field
Records	CSUSM (10-3, 7-1 CCAA) Chico State (10-6, 3-1 CCAA)
Live Stats	SideArm Stats
Live Video ($)	CCAA Network

   

INSIDE THE WILDCATS

• Chico State's series against visiting Cal Poly Humboldt was the only series to postpone its entire series last weekend. Since both teams are from the north, they will be expected to reschedule their games at a later date. 
• The last time the Wildcats took the field was in their CCAA opening weekend at Cal State Monterey Bay Feb. 17-18 where Chico State earned a series split against the Otters. 
• Chico dropped both doubleheader openers to CSUMB 1-0 and 9-2, but rebounded with nightcap wins both days at 2-1 and 4-3. 
• The Cougars swept the Wildcats in Chico last season by scores of 2-0, 8-2, 5-2 and 17-7. 
• In the 17-7 series finale, the Cougars posted 13 runs in the fourth inning - the most they have tallied since moving to NCAA Division II. The only other time in program history CSUSM has scored 13 runs in a single inning was against LA Sierra in the second inning of a 19-0 victory on April 15, 2012. 
• The Wildcats hold a slight edge in the all-time series at 11-9 and are 5-1 when playing CSUSM in San Marcos. 
• During the NAIA era, CSUSM dominated Chico State by shutting them out in the first four meetings (9-0, 2-0, 4-0 and 8-0). 
• Eight times in 12 games the Wildcats have been awarded first base after being hit by a pitch, second highest in the CCAA. 
• On the other side, Chico State pitchers have the third lowest number of hit batters in the CCAA with five. 
• Katelyn Oldwin, who has played in only five games for the Wildcats, has Chico State's only home run. 
• Ameile Valdez has the best WHIP average at 0.85 in the CCAA in 43.1 innings in the circle. 
• The Wildcats finished second in the CCAA last season and was eliminated after two games in the CCAA Tournament. 
• In the NCAA West Regional in Irvine, Chico dropped its opening game, 1-0, to Cal State Dominguez Hills before recording a 3-0 victory over Azusa Pacific the next day. The Wildcats saw their season come to an end after a 2-1 loss to Concordia University Irvine later that day. 
• The Wildcats did not have anyone featured on the 2023 CCAA Softball Preseason Watchlist.  
• Chico State was picked to finish fourth in the 2023 CCAA Preseason Softball Coaches Poll.

 

COUGAR OUTLOOK

• CSUSM has 17 returners for the 2023 season, including 2022 All-CCAA honorees Paige Donnelly (first team), Savannah Coyle (first team), Bianca Gutierrez (first team) and Jayline Sloss (second team). 
• The Cougars will have seven newcomers this season with six freshmen and one transfer.
• Athletically, the Cougars are made up of 13 redshirt sophomores, five true sophomores and six true freshmen.
• CSUSM was picked to repeat as conference champions in the 2023 CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll.

 
THE EWING FILE

• 2022 CCAA Coach of the Year Stef Ewing enters her fifth season in charge of the Cougar softball season.
• The Cougars finished the 2022 historic season surpassing all expectations by winning the program's first CCAA Regular-Season Championship with a 28-8 conference record while going 45-14 overall and hosting the NCAA West and Super West Regional as the top seed. 
• In her four seasons, she has coached two NFCA All-American third team selections, seven All-CCAA honorees (three first team selections), a CCAA Newcomer of the Year and CCAA Freshman of the Year. 
• Ewing captured her first win as a collegiate head coach on Feb. 17, 2019 as the Cougars recorded a walk-off 5-4 victory over Concordia Portland at CSUSM Softball Field.
• Ewing has complied a 76-60 (.559) in her five seasons at CSUSM. 
• She previously served as the assistant coach at New Mexico State where she helped the Aggies to three WAC Regular Season Conference Championships and two WAC Conference Tournament Championships.