Cougars Crowned 2024 CCAA Tournament Champions
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos (35-20) softball team was crowned the CCAA Tournament Champion after recording a 6-2 victory against Cal State East Bay (29-22) in the if-necessary game on Saturday afternoon at CSUSM Softball Field. The Cougars dropped game one 4-2 to the Pioneers.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Jayline Sloss (MVP)
Paige Donnelly
Mackenzie Kestler
Madison Waymire
GAME 1: CSUSM 2 – CSUEB 4
TOP PERFORMERS
Jillian Albayati – 1-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 2B
Paige Donnelly – 1-for-3 | 1 R | 1 2B
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-3 | 1 R | 1 2B
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Donnelly hit a leadoff double to center on the first pitch she saw, and Arredondo drew a walk before Albayati crushed a 2-RBI double through the left side to put CSUSM up 2-0 in the bottom of the first.
- In the top of the fifth, CSUEB cut the deficit to 2-1 on a Cougar error before Carrillo hit a three-run homer to center field and put the Pioneers up 4-2.
QUICK HITS
- Savannah Coyle (10-8) recorded the loss after relinquishing four unearned runs on five hits while striking out three batters.
- CSUEB's reliever Ashlee Toy (12-9) picked up the win after six shutout innings, allowing four hits and three walks.
- Donnelly's 16th double of the season pulled her even with Stan State's Mikaela Ferreira for the most from a CCAA school.
- Albayati's two RBIs raised her season total of multi-RBI games to 10, moving her into second on the team.
GAME 2: CSUSM 6 – CSUEB 2
TOP PERFORMERS
Madison Waymire – 3-for-3 | 3 R | 2 RBIs | 2 2B | 1 HR | 1 SAC
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-4 | 1 R | 1 2B
Mackenzie Kestler – 2-for-4 | 1 R | 1 RBI
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 3B | 1 SF
Czar Fleischman – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI | 1 2B
HOW IT HAPPENED
- As the second batter of the game, Waymire took the first pitch she faced over the center field wall to put the Cougars up 1-0 in the first inning.
- The Pioneers evened the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning on a Cortez RBI double to center field.
- The Cougars went up 3-1 in the third inning on an Arredondo RBI triple to right field followed by Kestler's RBI single through the left side.
- An RBI double down the left line by Fleischman raised CSUSM's lead to 4-1.
- In the top of the seventh, the Cougars collected two insurance runs on a Waymire RBI double to left center and an Arredondo sacrifice fly to make it 6-1.
- With two outs, the Pioneers pushed another run across the plate on a Martinez single up the middle before relief pitcher Jayline Sloss recorded a strikeout to end the game.
QUICK HITS
- Dahlia Fink (7-2) earned the win after giving up one run on three hits and two walks while striking out three over four innings of work.
- Sloss (1) collected her first save the season after tossing three innings, allowing one unearned run on one hit, two walks and one hit batter.
- CSUEB's starter Ashlee Toy took the loss after three innings in the circle, allowing three runs on five hits and walking none.
- Waymire recorded her ninth multi-RBI game, keeping her in third on the team.
- This is CSUSM's first CCAA Tournament Title in program history.
- In three years, the Cougars have won a CCAA Regular-Season Championship, a CCAA Tournament Title and an NCAA West Regional Title.
UP NEXT
Receiving the automatic bid with the tournament win, the Cougars will find out Monday, May 6 at 7 a.m. on where they will be heading next week for the NCAA West Regional. The NCAA Division II Selection Show information can be found by clicking here.
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