SAN MARCOS, Calif – The No. 5 Cal State San Marcos softball team (13-4, 10-2 CCAA) collected its third CCAA series victory after earning a split doubleheader on Saturday against Chico State (8-8, 3-5 CCAA) at CSUSM Softball Field. After falling 7-5 in the twinbill opener, the Cougars registered a 8-1 win in the series finale.
 
CSUSM 5 – CHICO 7
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-3 | 3 RBIs | 2 R | 1 HR | 1 2B | 1 BB
Madison Waymire – 2-for-3 | 2 R | 1 2B | 1 BB
Jillian Albayati – 1-for-2 | 2 RBIs | 1 HR | 1 BB

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After Waymire led off with a double, Donnelly hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to put the Cougars up 2-0.
• The Wildcats answered with two runs in the top of the second with a 2-RBI double down the right line by Ashley Rocha.
• The Cougars retook the lead in the bottom of the third on a Donnelly RBI double to left that plated Waymire to make it 3-2.
• Chico State put three runs on the board in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk, a CSUSM error and a Tayler Berens RBI single to make it 5-3 Wildcats.
• An Albayati two-run homer to dead center in the bottom of the fifth tied the game at 5-all.
• The Wildcats went back on top in the sixth on a Grace Stover sacrifice fly to left.
• In the top of the seventh, Chico State got an insurance run on a CSUSM error to secure the win.

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss got a no-decision after 4.0 innings of work, giving up five runs (four earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out three.
• Reliever Zoe Ballen (2-1) took the loss after 3.0 innings in the circle, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks.
• Chico State starter Ameile Valdez (5-3) earned the win after allowing five runs on six hits and three walks in 6.0 innings.
• Mari Takeda Bajan (3) collected the save after a shutout inning.  

 
CSUSM 8 – CHICO 1
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 3-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 2 R | 1 HR | 1 2B
Madison Waymire – 1-for-2 | 2 R | 1 SF
Jillian Albayati – 1-for-3 | 2 R | 1 BB
Bianca Gutierrez – 1-for-2 | 2 RBIs
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars took a 2-0 lead in the first frame on a bases-loaded walk and an Aneesa Arredondo sacrifice fly.
• Donnelly hit a two-run homer to right center to make it 4-0 in the second inning.
• The Cougars added to their lead with three runs in the fourth inning on a Gianna Lombardi ground out that plated Waymire and a Gutierrez fielder's choice that scored two runs after a Chico error.
• The Wildcats scored their lone run of the game in the fifth on a wild pitch to make it 7-1.
• A Sammie Olivio RBI single through the right side scored Donnelly for the final run of the series.  

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Savannah Coyle (6-1) tossed her fourth complete game for the win, allowing just one unearned run in 7.0 innings after giving up six hits and no walks while striking out two.
• Wildcat starter Katelyn Oldwin (2-3) took the loss after giving up four runs on four hits and four walks in 2.0 innings of work.
• Donnelly recorded her second three-hit game of the season after first doing the feat in the Cal State East Bay series opener on Feb. 24.
• The Cougars are tied at 12-all in the all-time series with the Wildcats and have won the last seven of eight meetings against Chico.

THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH STEF EWING
"It was another tough week in the CCAA with perennial power Chico coming in for four hard-fought games. I felt like we played pretty well in three of the four games. Game three was a little rough on both sides for us. Overall, our offense has really started to click and pitching was superb. We had a few mental and physical mistakes in game three, but the team came back and played amazing in the series finale for a win. Kudos to them on recovering and closing it out for another series victory."  
 
UP NEXT
The Cougars will travel up to Rohnert Park next week for a four-game series against Sonoma State beginning on Friday, March 10 at 12 p.m.