ROHNERT PARK, Calif.  – The sixth-seeded Cal State San Marcos softball team (30-19) is returning to the NCAA Division II West Super Regional after posting a 7-1 victory over seventh-seeded Azusa Pacific (34-26) on Saturday at Seawolf Softball Field in Rohnert Park.
 
WEST REGIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jayline Sloss – MVP
Czar Fleischman
Bianca Gutierrez
Mackenzie Kestler
Madison Waymire
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Bianca Gutierrez – 2-for-3 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 1 BB
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-4 | 2 R
Mackenzie Kestler – 1-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 3B | 1 BB
Ryann Steiner – 1-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 2B  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Arredondo led off the second with a single through the left side, advanced two bases on a sac bunt and throwing error before scoring on a groundout by Czar Fleischman. CSUSM added another run on a fielder's choice with pinch runner Klarissa Munoz beating out the throw home to take a 2-0 lead.
• APU pushed a run across in the bottom of the second on a groundout by Caitlin DeCanio to make it 2-1 CSUSM.
• CSUSM added to its lead in the third inning when Madison Waymire scored on a passed ball after leading off the inning with a single to make it 3-1.
• San Marcos put the game out of reach in the top of the sixth on Gutierrez's RBI single through the right side and Kestler's 2-RBI triple off the center field wall.
• CSUSM collected one more run in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Ryann Steiner to make it 7-1.

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss (9-7) picked up her third win of the weekend, allowing only two hits and one unearned run in 5.0 innings while striking out five batters.
• Savannah Coyle came into the game in relief, throwing two shutout innings while giving up only one hit and fanning two batters.
• APU starter Sydnie Sahhar (8-8) went 5.1 innings, relinquishing five runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out six in the loss.
• Kestler extended her streak of reaching base safely to 15 games while recording her sixth multi-RBI game of the season.
• Gutierrez collected her 14th multi-hit game of the season, one less than leader Paige Donnelly who has 15.
• This marks CSUSM's second consecutive trip to the West Super Regional. Last season, the Cougars hosted and fell in the if-necessary game to Cal State Dominguez Hills, 3-1. 
• In the West Regional, the Cougars outscored their opponents 25-2 and outhit their opponents 31-9 while hitting .369 to their opponents' .136. CSUSM's pitching staff recorded a 0.37 ERA while its opponents finished with a 7.39 ERA. 

UP NEXT
The Cougars are waiting for the results between top-seeded Concordia University Irvine and Northwest Nazarene in the other West Regional tournament to determine where the West Super Regional will be held on May 18-19.