SEASIDE, Calif. – The No. 2 Cal State San Marcos softball team (31–3, 13–2 CCAA) overpowered No. 25 Cal State Monterey Bay (22–12, 7–8 CCAA) on Friday at the Otter Sports Complex, erupting for a 19–6 run‑rule victory in game one before securing a 7–4 win in the nightcap.

GAME 1: CSUSM 19 – CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 6 (5 innings)

TOP PERFORMERS
Olivia Rivera – 2-for-2 | HR | 4 RBIs | 2 R
Czar Fleischman – 2-for-4 | 2B | 3 RBIs | 2 R | SB
Sarah Bull – 2-for-3 | 3 RBIs | 2 R
Marissa Morales – 1-for-2 | 3 R | RBI
Jillian Albayati – 2-for-3 | 3 R
Jordan Hill – 3.0 IP | 4 H | 6 R | 4 BB
Hailey Shiflett – 2.0 IP | 1 H | 0 R | 3 K

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM seized control early, capitalizing on a pair of two‑out hits in the first inning before Czar Fleischman drove home Jillian Albayati with a single to right center for a 1–0 lead.
• The Cougars erupted for six runs in the second, stringing together five hits—including RBI swings from Marissa Morales, Albayati, Fleischman and Sarah Bull—while also taking advantage of two wild pitches to build a 7–0 cushion.
• Monterey Bay responded with four runs in the bottom half, but CSUSM answered immediately with a 12‑run third inning fueled by three Otter errors and a relentless offensive surge.
• Zoe Karam delivered a two‑run single, Bull added another RBI knock, and Olivia Rivera punctuated the inning with a four‑run homer down the left‑field line.
• Hailey Shiflett entered in the fourth and tossed two scoreless innings to secure the run‑rule victory.

QUICK HITS

• Cougar starter Jordan Hill (11–2) earned the win after throwing 3.0 innings, allowing four hits and four walks while navigating six runs.
• CSUMB starter Kadence Nulick (6–6) took the loss after surrendering six runs on seven hits in 1.2 innings.
• CSUSM totaled 12 hits, drew 10 walks and recorded two steals (Fleischman, Elias).

GAME 2: CSUSM 7 – CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 4

TOP PERFORMERS
Zoe Karam – 2-for-4 | HR | 3 RBIs | 1 R
Madilyn Novello – 3-for-4 | 2 RBIs
Czar Fleischman – 3-for-4 | 2B | 1 R
Hannah Tandy – 2-for-3 | 1 R
Marissa Morales – 1-for-4 | 2 R | 2B | SB
Daleah Cardenas – 5.0 IP | 6 H | 4 R (3 ER) | 3 K
Madison Cabrera – 2.0 IP | 0 H | 0 R | 3 K

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM broke through in the third inning when Marissa Morales doubled to left center and scored on Jillian Albayati's ground‑rule double to tie the game at 1–1.
• Moments later, Madilyn Novello singled to left to bring home Albayati for a 2–1 advantage.
• After the Otters evened the score in the bottom half, the Cougars erupted for a five‑run fourth inning—punctuated by a three‑run homer from Zoe Karam to left center following steals by Hannah Tandy and Morales.
• Novello and Kaila Siu added RBI singles to extend the lead to 7–2.
• Daleah Cardenas worked through five innings before Madison Cabrera entered and retired all six batters she faced to close out the sweep.

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Daleah Cardenas (12–0) earned the win with five innings of work, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out three.
• Madison Cabrera earned her third save of the season with two perfect innings.
• Otter starter Jordan Knutson (9–3) was tagged with the loss after giving up seven runs on 13 hits in 4.2 innings.
• CSUSM tallied 16 hits and committed one error.
• The Cougars recorded two steals (Marissa Morales, Hannah Tandy).
• CSUSM extended its win streak to six with the two victories.

UP NEXT
CSUSM continues its four‑game CCAA series at Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, March 28, with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. at the Otter Sports Complex.