IRVINE, Calif. — The Cal State San Marcos softball team (2-0) opened the 2026 season with a dominant pair of victories on Friday at Great Park, defeating Chaminade (0-1) 11-2 in the opener before blanking Hawai'i Pacific (0-2) 8-0 in five innings to close the day at the CUI Kickoff Classic.
 

CSUSM 11 – Chaminade 2

TOP PERFORMERS

• Jillian Albayati – 4-for-5 | 3 RBIs | 1 run
• Lauren Deplitch – 3-for-3 | 3 runs | 3 SB | 1 HBP
• Zoe Karam – 2-for-5 | 2 2B | 3 RBIs
• Jordan Elias – 3-for-3 | 3 runs | 1 SB
• Marissa Morales – 1-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 1 HBP
• Olivia Rivera – 1-for-3 | 1 2B | 1 RBI

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM opened the scoring in the second inning when Lauren Deplitch singled and stole second before Sarah Bull delivered an RBI single to right field.
• The Cougars erupted for five runs in the third. Jordan Elias led off with a bunt single, and Marissa Morales was hit by a pitch, setting the table for Jillian Albayati's RBI single. Zoe Karam followed with a two-run double to left, and Olivia Rivera added an RBI double to left center. Bull capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to give CSUSM a 6-0 lead.
• Albayati struck again in the fourth, driving in Elias after another bunt single and stolen base to push the margin to 7-0.
• Chaminade plated two runs in the fifth following a pair of walks and consecutive RBI hits, but CSUSM responded immediately. Albayati singled home Elias in the sixth, and Karam doubled for the second time to extend the lead to 9-2.
• The Cougars closed the scoring in the seventh as Morales lined a two-run single to right center to seal the 11-2 victory.

QUICK HITS

• Winning Pitcher: Hailey Shiftlett (1-0) earned the win in relief, while Jordan Hill struck out six over three scoreless innings in the start, and Madison Cabrera finished with two shutout frames.
• Losing Pitcher: Bailey Benso allowed six runs over three innings.
• Series History: CSUSM improved to 5-0 all-time against Chaminade.
• CSUSM totaled 15 hits and scored in six different innings.

CSUSM 8 – Hawai'i Pacific 0 (5 innings)

TOP PERFORMERS

• Marissa Morales – 3-for-3 | 2 runs | 1 3B
• Jillian Albayati – 1-for-2 | 2 RBIs | 2 runs | 1 BB
• Zoe Karam – 1-for-1 | 1 3B | 2 RBIs | 2 BB
• Czar Fleischman – 1-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 run
• Angelina Rodriguez – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI
• Jordan Elias – 2-for-3 | 1 RBI

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM jumped ahead immediately in the first inning. Marissa Morales singled to open the frame and eventually scored on Czar Fleischman's RBI single. Angelina Rodriguez followed with a run-scoring single to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.
• The Cougars doubled the advantage in the second. Morales tripled to left center, and after Jillian Albayati drew a walk, Zoe Karam lined a two-run triple down the right-field line to make it 4-0.
• CSUSM broke the game open with a four-run third inning. Rae D'Amato tripled to start the frame, and Lauren Deplitch drove in a run on a fielder's choice. Jordan Elias followed with an RBI single, and Albayati capped the scoring with a two-run single to right field as the Cougars surged ahead 8-0.
• From there, Delaney Cardenas was in complete control in the circle. Hawai'i Pacific managed just one hit, and CSUSM secured the run-rule victory after five innings.

QUICK HITS

• Winning Pitcher: Delaney Cardenas (1-0) tossed a complete-game shutout, allowing one hit while striking out two.
• Losing Pitcher: An Oseguera (0-1) surrendered eight runs (five earned) in 2.2 innings.
• CSUSM recorded 11 hits, including three triples, and did not commit a strikeout at the plate.
• The Cougars improved to 5-0 all-time against Hawai'i Pacific.

NEXT UP
CSUSM continues play at the CUI Kickoff Classic on Saturday with an 11 a.m. game against Fort Lewis, followed by a 6 p.m. contest against Dominican.