SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Daleah Cardenas of softball and Zech Samayoa of baseball have been named the Cal State San Marcos Student-Athletes of the Month for March 2026.
 
The CSUSM Student-Athlete of the Month awards are determined through a vote of all Department of Athletics coaches, administrators and staff. Each in-season program nominates a student-athlete to be considered for the award each month.
 
Cardenas posted a 6-0 record with a 1.33 ERA in four starts and two relief appearances during March while holding opposing batters to a .227 average. The freshman also collected two saves in the series finales against Stanislaus State and Cal State Monterey Bay to complete series sweeps of both. Against the Warriors on March 6, Cardenas registered a combined shutout, allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out four in six innings of action.
 
Samayoa led CSUSM with a .422 batting average, 18 runs, eight home runs, 28 RBIs, 51 total bases and a 1.133 slugging percentage while tallying 19 hits, six doubles. one triple and eight walks. The redshirt senior earned CCAA and NCBWA West Region Player of the Week honors after leading CSUSM with a .667 batting average, three doubles, two home runs, 10 RBIs and 19 total bases in the Cougars' series win over Stanislaus State. Samayoa also had two grand slams for the month against Cal State San Bernardino and Chico State.
 
This is the first CSUSM Student-Athlete of the Month honor for both Cardenas and Samayoa.