HAYWARD, Calif. – The top-seeded Cal State San Marcos softball team (50-8) opened championship day at the CCAA Tournament on Saturday with a 5-1 victory over second-seeded Cal State East Bay (40-15) to force an if-necessary game, but the Cougars fell 5-2 to the Pioneers (41-15) in the winner-take-all championship game at CSUEB Softball Field.
CCAA ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Deleah Cardenas
Jordan Elias
Czar Fleischman
Marissa Morales
GAME 1: CSUSM 5, CSUEB 2
TOP PERFORMERS
Marissa Morales – 3-for-3 | 1 R | 1 BB
Zoe Karam – 2-for-4 | 2 R | 1 3B
Czar Fleischman – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs
Rae D'Amato – 2-for-3 | 1 RBI
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Cal State East Bay struck first in the top of the first inning as Jeslyn Cuellar doubled to right field and later scored on an RBI double to left center by Rylee Gomez for a 1-0 lead.
- Cal State San Marcos responded immediately in the bottom half as Marissa Morales worked a walk and advanced into scoring position before Zoe Karam singled to center. Rae D'Amato followed with a single up the middle to load the bases, and Czar Fleischman delivered a two-run single to left center to score Morales and Karam and put the Cougars ahead 2-1.
- The Cougars extended the lead in the fifth inning behind a four-hit rally. Karam opened the frame by tripling down the right-field line and came home on an RBI double to left center by D'Amato. Pinch runner Jordan Munn later scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Angelina Rodriguez, and Alizabeth Ruiz capped the inning with an RBI double to left field to make it 5-1.
- The Pioneers plated a run in the seventh inning on an RBI single by Ava Benavides.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM's Daleah Cardenas earned the win after throwing 7.0 innings of relief, allowing one run on four hits with one strikeout to improve to 18-2.
- CSUEB starter Marissa Quintero was charged with the loss after surrendering two runs on five hits in 1.1 innings, falling to 26-7.
GAME 2: CSUEB 5, CSUSM 1
TOP PERFORMERS
Marissa Morales – 3-for-3 | 1 R | 1 2B | 1 BB
Rae D'Amato – 1-for-4 | 1 RBI
Sarah Bull – 2-for-3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSUSM took an early lead in the top of the first inning as Marissa Morales singled to left field and advanced to second after Zoe Karam was hit by a pitch. Rae D'Amato then doubled to right field to bring home Morales and give the Cougars a 1-0 advantage.
- The Cougars threatened in multiple innings but were unable to add on as Cal State East Bay pitcher Marissa Quintero worked through traffic.
- The Pioneers tied the game in the bottom of the fourth when Jasmyn Morales hit a solo home run to center field.
- In the sixth inning, CSUEB broke the game open as Rylee Gomez homered to right center to take the lead, followed by another solo home run from Jasmyn Morales. Later in the inning, Macie Mead delivered a two-run double to right center to score Ava Benavides and pinch runner Mia Garcia, extending the lead to 5-1.
- Cal State San Marcos was unable to mount a rally in the seventh, and the Pioneers secured the championship.
QUICK HITS
- Marissa Quintero earned the win with a complete-game effort, allowing one run on seven hits with two strikeouts to improve to 27-7.
- Jordan Hill took the loss after pitching 5.0 innings and allowing three runs on five hits, dropping to 16-4.
- Marissa Morales became the CCAA Tournament hit leader with 10 hits, surpassing the previous record by two hits set by Jordyn Martinez of Sonoma State in 2022.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will now wait for the NCAA Division II Selection Show on Monday morning at 7 a.m. to find out the West Regional schedule. As the No. 1 seed in the previous two regional polls, CSUSM is favored to be one of the two West Regional hosts.
