IRVINE, Calif. ­– The sixth-seeded Cal State San Marcos softball team (31-19) posted a 9-0 shutout win over top-seeded No. 11 Concordia University Irvine in the first game of the NCAA Division II West Super Regional on Thursday afternoon at Golden Eagle Field.
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Czar Fleischman – 2-for-4 | 4 RBIs | 1 R | 1 HR | 1 2B
Jillian Albayati – 2-for-4 | 3 RBIs | 1 R | 1 HR
Madison Waymire – 3-for-4 | 3 R | 1 RBI | 1 3B | 1 2B | 1 SB
Aneese Arredondo – 3-for-3 | 2 R | 1 BB
Makenzie Guiliano – 3-for-5
Mackenzie Kestler – 2-for-4 | 1 R
Jayline Sloss – 5.0 IP | 2 K | 0 R | 2 H | 3 BB
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM began the scoring in the top of the second. After a one-out walk by Arredondo, Fleischman hit a two-out RBI double down the right field line to put the Cougars up 1-0.
• Following a two-out single to short in the top of the third, Kestler scored all the way from first on an RBI double down the right field line by Waymire to give CSUSM a 2-0 lead. Immediately after, Albayati put an 0-1 pitch over the left center wall to double the Cougars' lead to 4-0.
• In a bases-loaded jam with one out in the bottom of the fourth following a CUI single, a walk and a Cougar fielding error, CSUSM turned a 6-4-3 double play to get out of the inning unscathed.
• The Cougars scored their fifth run in the top of the fifth with sacrifice fly to center by Ryann Steiner that allowed Waymire to score.
• CSUSM put the game away in the top of the seventh. Albayati hit an RBI single to left to score Waymire before Fleischman hit a three-run blast to left for her first career homer and put the Cougars up 9-0.

 
QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss (10-7) picked up her fourth consecutive win of the tournament as she went 5.0 inning with two strikeouts while allowing just three walks and two runs.
• CUI starter Katlin Entrup (17-5) took the loss after allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks in 2.2 innings.
• Since the beginning of the NCAA Tournament last weekend, CSUSM has now outscored the opposition 34-2.
• This is the second consecutive year the Cougars have opened the NCAA West Super Regional with a victory as it did so against Cal State Dominguez Hills last season.
• CSUSM posted its eighth shutout victory of the year.
• Going back to last season, the Cougars have won the last three games against the Golden Eagles in Irvine.
• CSUSM's nine-run margin of victory was the largest in the all-time series against CUI and tied for the sixth largest as a program in the NCAA Division II era.
• Waymire's three runs were the most scored by a Cougar this season.
• Kestler's reached-base streak now stands at 16 games.
• Head Coach Stef Ewing now has 97 wins for her career – all at CSUSM.

UP NEXT
CSUSM will have two opportunities to win the NCAA West Super Regional on Friday. The first game of the day will occur at noon and will be followed by the if-necessary game at 2:30 p.m.