HAYWARD, Calif. – The No. 1 Cal State San Marcos softball team (38-4, 22-2 CCAA) split its doubleheader at No. 8 Cal State East Bay (31-9, 18-6 CCAA) on Thursday afternoon at Pioneer Softball Field, taking the opener 2-1 in eight innings before falling 6-3 in the nightcap as its 13‑game win streak came to an end.

GAME 1: CSUSM 2 – CSUEB 1 (8 innings)

TOP PERFORMERS
Marissa Morales – 1-for-1 | 2 R | 1 2B | 3 BB
Jillian Albayati – 0-for-2 | 2 BB
Zoe Karam – 1-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 1 SB
Jordan Hill – 8.0 IP | 2 H | 1 R | 11 SO

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After three scoreless innings, East Bay broke through in the third when Jeslyn Cuellar lifted a solo home run to right, giving the Pioneers a 1–0 lead.
• CSUSM threatened in the fifth as Madilyn Novello drew a walk, but a double play ended the inning.
• The Cougars finally broke through in the sixth when Morales doubled down the left‑field line and later scored on a throwing error after Jillian Albayati walked and Zoe Karam reached on a misplay at shortstop, tying the game at 1–1.
• In the eighth, Morales worked her third walk of the day and moved to second on another walk to Albayati. Karam then delivered the go‑ahead RBI with a sharp single down the left‑field line, scoring Morales for a 2–1 advantage.
• Jordan Hill closed out the bottom half with a flyout and two routine plays to secure the extra‑inning win.

QUICK HITS

• Cougar starter Jordan Hill (13–2) earned the win with an NCAA Division II era program-best 11 strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one run across eight innings.
• East Bay starter Marissa Quintero (20–3) took the loss despite giving up only two hits and one earned run with six walks.
• Morales reached base four times and scored both Cougar runs.
• Zoe Karam recorded both RBIs and added a stolen base.

GAME 2: CSUEB 6 – CSUSM 3

TOP PERFORMERS
Kaila Siu – 2-for-3 | 1 R | 1 RBI | 1 BB | 1 SB
Jillian Albayati – 2-for-2 | 1 R | 1 RBI | 2 BB | 1 2B
Czar Fleischman – 2-for-4 | 1 RBI
Madilyn Novello – 2-for-4

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM struck first in the third inning when Siu walked, stole second and scored on Jillian Albayati's RBI double to right‑center.
• Rae D'Amato and Czar Fleischman followed with back‑to‑back singles, with Fleischman driving in Albayati for a 2–0 lead.
• East Bay answered immediately in the bottom half, tying the game on a triple by Jeslyn Cuellar and an RBI single from Rylee Gomez.
• The Cougars regained the lead in the fourth when Jordan Elias singled, stole second and scored on Siu's RBI single down the left‑field line.
• The Pioneers surged ahead in the fifth, scoring three runs on four hits—including RBI singles from Gomez and Isabel Mercado–to take a 5–3 advantage.
• They added another run in the sixth on back‑to‑back doubles by Gomez and Jasmyn Morales.

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Daleah Cardenas (14-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings.
• East Bay's Marissa Quintero (21-3) earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits and striking out one.
• CSUSM and East Bay each tallied 10 hits in the contest.
• The Cougars stole three bases (Kaila Siu, Marissa Morales, Jordan Elias).
• CSUSM continues to lead the all-time series against the Pioneers at 26-11 and are 9-3 when playing in Hayward. 

UP NEXT
CSUSM continues its four‑game CCAA road series at Cal State East Bay on Friday, April 10, with another doubleheader beginning at 10 a.m. at Pioneer Softball Field.