Cal State San Marcos Athletics

HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos softball team (49-7) punched its ticket to the CCAA Tournament championship game for the third consecutive time on Friday at Pioneer Field, bouncing back from a 3-0 loss to Cal State East Bay (40-14) before earning a 4-3 elimination-game victory over Cal Poly Humboldt (26-28).

GAME 1: CSUSM 0 - Cal State East Bay 3

TOP PERFORMERS
Czar Fleischman – 2-for-3
Jordan Elias – 2-for-3
Jillian Albayati – 1-for-4

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUEB struck first in the opening inning with a solo home run to center field by Rylee Gomez, giving the Pioneers an early 1-0 lead.
• The Pioneers added to their advantage in the second inning. Macie Mead reached on a walk and advanced into scoring position before Jeslyn Cuellar lined a single up the middle, bringing Mead home to make it 2-0.
• CSUSM threatened multiple times offensively, tallying seven hits and putting runners in scoring position in the fifth and seventh innings, but was unable to capitalize.
• East Bay tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh when Brynn Gentry singled and eventually scored on an RBI single by Gomez to push the lead to 3-0.

QUICK HITS

• CSUEB's Marissa Quintero (27-6) earned the win for Cal State East Bay after throwing a complete-game shutout, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out six.
• CSUSM's starter Daleah Cardenas (17-2) took the loss for Cal State San Marcos after pitching 6.2 innings, surrendering three runs on eight hits and three walks.
• Jillian Albayati broke the CSUSM streak for reaching base safely with 37 consecutive games. 

GAME 2: CSUSM 4 - Cal Poly Humboldt 3

TOP PERFORMERS
Marissa Morales – 2-for-2 | 1 R | 2 SB
Czar Fleischman – 1-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 HR
Zoe Karam – 1-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 HR
Angelina Rodriquez – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Cal State San Marcos jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Marissa Morales opened the frame with a single and moved into scoring position with a stolen base before advancing to third. Angelina Rodriquez followed with an RBI single to left field. Two batters later, Czar Fleischman lifted a two-run home run to left-center, giving the Cougars a 3-0 advantage.
• Cal Poly Humboldt got on the board in the third inning when Mackenzie Brody singled to left-center to score Brianna Garcia, cutting the deficit to 3-1.
• The Cougars answered immediately in the bottom of the third as Zoe Karam blasted a solo home run to left-center, extending the lead to 4-1.
• Humboldt rallied in the fourth inning with consecutive runs. Rylee Banks homered to left-center before Alyssa Ramirez followed later in the inning with an RBI single that scored Alyssa Garcia, trimming CSUSM's lead to 4-3.

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM's Hailey Shiftlett (7-1) picked up the win after throwing 3.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing three hits and one walk.
• Humboldt's starter Lauren Fournier (15-14) took the loss for Cal Poly Humboldt after allowing four runs on eight hits in six innings.
• Czar Fleischman hit her ninth home run of the season with a two-run blast in the first inning.
• Zoe Karam hit her 16th home run of the season, reclaiming the CCAA lead.
• Jillian Albayati raised her program-record streak to 38 games of reaching base safely. 

NEXT UP
The Cougars will face Cal State East Bay at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 8. To be named CCAA Tournament Champions, CSUSM will need to win the 11 a.m. game and the "if-necessary" game scheduled afterward.