SAN FRANCISCO – The No. 15 Cal State San Marcos softball team (17-8, 13-5 CCAA) split its Friday doubleheader at San Francisco State (10-13, 3-9 CCAA). The Cougars pulled off their third consecutive come-from-behind victory in the series opener with a 4-3 win before being shut out in the nightcap, 6-0.
Â
CSUSM 4 – SF STATE 3
Â
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-4 | 1 HR | 2 RBI
Jillian Albayati – 2-for-3 | 1 R | 1 BB
Bianca Gutierrez – 2-for-4
Mayca Brown – 1-for-1 | 1 3B | 1 R
Makenzie Guiliano – 2-for-3 | 1 RBI Â
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- A Paige Donnelly solo home run put CSUSM up 1-0 in the first inning.
- The Cougars doubled their lead in the next frame on a Guiliano RBI single up the middle that plated Albayati.
- The Gators took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a three-run homer by Marley Gonzales, making it 3-2.
- In the top of the seventh, pinch hitter Brown led off with a triple to left and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Waymire that knotted the game at 3-3. Donnelly later hit an RBI single to right that scored the winning run.
QUICK HITS
- Zoe Ballen (3-2) collected the win in relief, tossing 1.2 shutout innings with just one walk.
- CSUSM starter Savannah Coyle got a no-decision after allowing three runs on eight hits and no walks in 5.1 innings.
- SF State starter Brooklyn Heffernan (3-7) took the loss after allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks in 7.0 innings. Â
- Donnelly's solo home run in the first was her fourth of the season, pulling up even with Albayati for the most by a Cougar in 2023.
Â
CSUSM 0 – SF STATE 6
Â
TOP PERFORMERS
Madison Waymire – 3-for-4
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-2 | 1 BB
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Gators took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a walk, sac bunt, stolen base and a CSUSM error.
- SF State added another run in the third inning, scoring on another CSUSM error with the Cougars yet to give up a hit.
- The Gators changed that in the bottom of the fourth with a grand slam by Marley Gonzalez to make it 6-0.
Â
QUICK HITS
- SF State starter Kaitlyn Maddux tossed a complete-game shutout, relinquishing eight hits and two walks while recording just one strikeout.
- CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss (5-4) took the loss after giving up six runs (five earned) on three hits and three walks while striking out four in 3.0 innings.
- Waymire's three hits in a single game is a career first.
Â
UP NEXT
The Cougars will wrap up their series against San Francisco State on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
Â
Â
Â