LA MIRADA, Calif.  – The No. 19 Cal State San Marcos softball team (20-11) recorded a doubleheader non-conference sweep at Biola (17-16) on Saturday afternoon. The Cougars opened with a 4-3 nine-inning victory before holding on to a 3-1 win in the nightcap.
 
CSUSM 4 – BIOLA 3 (9 INN.)
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 1-for-2 | 2 BB
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-3 | 1 2B | 2 RBIs | 1 BB
Mackenzie Kestler – 1-for-4 | 1 RBI
Ryann Steiner – 1-for-4 | 1 R | 1 RBI | 1 SF
Gianna Lombardi – 1-for-4 | 1 R
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• A Steiner sacrifice fly to left field plated Gutierrez in the fourth put CSUSM up 1-0.
• The Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the sixth on a Rilee Ruvalcaba RBI double and a Kaitlyn Hawkins RBI single.
• After back-to-back singles by Steiner and Lombardi, Arredondo crushed a two-out 2-RBI double to right center to retake the lead at 3-2 in the top of the seventh.
• Biola evened the game at 3-all on Colby McClinton's RBI triple to left field, forcing the game into extra innings.
• After both teams failed to get a hit in the eighth inning, the Cougars took a 4-3 lead in the top of the ninth. Steiner reached first on a dropped pop up by the third baseman, moved to second on a drawn walk by Arredondo and scored on Kestler's RBI single that went over the shortstop and dribbled into left center.
• Relief pitcher Zoe Ballen retired the side in the bottom of the ninth to collect the win.

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Tay Shelton got a no-decision after going 5.1 innings and allowing two unearned runs on six hits while striking out one batter.
• Ballen (4-4) picked up the win after tossing 3.2 innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits.
• Biola's Kayla Bousquette took the loss in relief after allowing one unearned run on one hit and two walks.
• Biola starter Raylene Roybal registered six strikeouts after going 6.2 innings in the no-decision, relinquishing three runs on five hits and two walks.
• Donnelly extended her streak of reaching base safely to 10 games.
• CSUSM is 2-0 when going to extra innings this season.
• The Cougars are now 1-1 when going to extra innings against Biola after falling 7-5 in 10 innings to the Eagles in 2018 in San Marcos. 

 
CSUSM 3 – Biola 1
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Ryann Steiner – 3-for-4 | 1 RBI | 1 R
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-2 | 1 R | 2 BB
Mackenzie Kestler – 2-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 BB
Jill Albayati – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• For the second time on Saturday, Steiner pushed the first run across the plate with this time being a high flying RBI single to right center that scored Donnelly to give CSUSM a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
• The Cougars doubled their lead in the second inning when Kestler sliced an RBI single up the middle that scored Arredondo from second base.
• A bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning gave Biola its first run to make it 2-1.
• CSUSM got an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Albayati snuck an RBI single through the right side that scored Steiner who led off the inning with a single.
• After giving up a single in the bottom of the seventh, CSUSM got a fielder's choice before ending the game with a 5-4-3 double play.

 
QUICK HITS

• Savannah Coyle (10-3) picked up the win after tossing 4.1 shutout innings, allowing just three hits and no walks.
• Jayline Sloss (2) collected the save in relief, allowing just one earned run on three hits and two walks while striking out three batters in 2.2 innings.
• Biola starter Kayla Bousquette went just 1.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and two walks.
• Steiner recorded her second multi-hit game of 2023.
• Donnelly registered her team-leading tenth multi-hit game of the season.
• This marks CSUSM's first doubleheader sweep over Biola since moving to Division II in 2018.
• The Cougars are now 21-17 in the all-time series against the Eagles and 13-8 when playing in La Mirada.

THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH STEF EWING
"We had some people step up big time for us when it matter the most. The girls battled no matter what the situation was today. It was a great way to bounce back after Friday. Now it is time to keep it rolling into CCAA play again next week." 

UP NEXT
The Cougars will resume conference play next week when they host Cal State San Bernardino in a four-game CCAA series beginning on Friday with a twinbill at 1 p.m.