CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Delivering one of the most dramatic finishes in program history to break the program's single-season win record, the Cal State San Marcos softball team (56-10) walked off West Texas A&M (52-9) with a 5-4 nine-inning victory on Thursday at Frost Stadium. Trailing by three runs entering the bottom of the eighth, the Cougars stormed back to tie the game before completing the comeback in the ninth when
Jordan Elias led off with a single and
Marissa Morales executed a sacrifice bunt that forced a hurried throw. The errant throw skipped away, allowing Elias to race all the way home from first base and secure the win.
TOP PERFORMERS
Czar Fleischman – 2-for-4 | 2 R | 1 RBI | 1 2B
Sarah Bull – 1-for-3 | 1 R | 2 RBIs | 1 HR
Jordan Elias – 2-for-4 | 1 R
Alizabeth Ruiz – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI
Jillian Albayati – 1-for-4 | 1 2B
Zoe Karam – 1-for-4 | 1 2B
HOW IT HAPPENED
- West Texas A&M broke through in the top of the second inning when Cadence Colborn opened the frame with a double and advanced into scoring position during a sequence that loaded the bases. Avery Cannon then lifted a deep sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Colborn to tag and score for an early 1-0 advantage. The Lady Buffs threatened again in multiple innings, including the fourth, when they loaded the bases, but the Cougar defense held firm to keep the deficit at a single run.
- Cal State San Marcos found its answer in the bottom of the fourth as Czar Fleischman ignited the offense with a leadoff single. After moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, she advanced to third on a wild pitch and then came across the plate on a clutch RBI single by Alizabeth Ruiz down the right-field line, tying the game at 1-1 and shifting momentum back to the Cougars.
- The game remained locked in a tense pitcher's duel until the top of the eighth inning when West Texas A&M capitalized on free passes and timely hitting. A walk and a fielder's choice set the table before Laci Peskey delivered an RBI single to give the Lady Buffs the lead. Moments later, Jordyn De Los Santos came through with a two-run single to center, stretching the advantage to 4-1 and putting CSUSM on the brink.
- Facing game-deciding pressure, the Cougars responded emphatically in the bottom half of the inning. Pinch hitter Kaila Siu drew a walk to spark the rally, and Fleischman followed with a run-scoring double to cut the deficit to two. With energy building, Sarah Bull stepped in and launched a two-run home run down the left-field line, tying the game at 4-4 and electrifying the CSUSM dugout.
- After Jordan Hill shut the door in the top of the ninth, the Cougars wasted no time finishing the comeback. Elias laced a single through the left side to begin the inning, and Morales placed a well-executed sacrifice bunt that forced a throw under pressure. The throw sailed wide of the target, allowing Elias to sprint home from first and cap the comeback with a walk-off victory.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM's Jordan Hill (19-4) earned the win in relief, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings while allowing two hits with one strikeout.
- Daleah Cardenas made the start for CSUSM, pitching 7.1 innings while allowing four runs on eight hits with four walks.
- WTAMU's Brooke Janning (24-4) took the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on 10 hits across 8.1 innings pitched.
- Both teams tallied 10 hits in the game.
- Sarah Bull's eighth-inning home run was her third of the season.
- This was CSUSM's second consecutive extra-inning victory, after taking down Biola in 11 innings to punch the Cougars' ticket to Tennessee.Â
UP NEXT
CSUSM will next play top-seeded Saint Leo at 9 a.m. (PDT) on Friday, May 29 in the NCAA Division II National Championships.
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