SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The No. 24 Cal State San Marcos (26-17, 14-10 CCAA) softball team swept Cal State San Bernardino (22-14, 14-11 CCAA) in Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 5-3 and 10-2 (six innings) to earn the Cougars' third CCAA series victory of 2024.
GAME 1: No. 24 CSUSM 5 – CSUSB 3
TOP PERFORMERS
Madison Waymire – 2-for-4 | 2 RBI | 2 HR
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-4
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI | 1 HR
Gianna Lombardi – 1-for-4 | 1 RBI
HOW IT HAPPENED
- On the 10th pitch she faced, Waymire crushed a leadoff home run to left field to put CSUSM up 1-0 in the opening inning.
- The Cougars doubled their lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI single up the middle by Lombardi to make it 2-0.
- CSUSB cut the Cougars lead in half with a solo shot to left field by Mia Escujuri in the bottom of the fourth inning.
- Waymire hit another leadoff home run in the top of the fifth, this time to right center to make it 3-1 CSUSM.
- The Coyotes made it a 3-2 ballgame on a Lindsay Marschall RBI fielder's choice in the sixth inning.
- Arredondo hit what was eventually the game-winning two-run home run in the top of the seventh to make it 5-2.
- Tereise Tosi hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh to cut CSUSM's lead to 5-3. Relief pitcher Dahlia Fink got the next batter to hit into a double play to end the game at 5-3.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss (12-7) earned the win after six innings of action, allowing three runs on nine hits and one walk.
- Fink (2) collected the save after a shutout inning in the circle.
- CSUSB's Natalie Carlos (7-6) took the loss after tossing a complete game, giving up five runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk.
- After reaching base with her double, Donnelly extended her streak to 20 games while raising her hit streak to 15 games.
- Waymire's two home runs in a single game was the 20th time in program history as she raised her total to seven on the season.
- The Cougars recorded another double play to raise their total to 30, a NCAA Division II best.
GAME 2: No. 24 CSUSM 10 – CSUSB 2
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 3-for-4 | 2 R | 1 RBI | 1 HR
Jillian Albayati – 2-for-3 | 3 RBIs | 2 R | 1 HR | 1 2B | 1 BB
Delaney Prater – 1-for-3 | 1 HR
Czar Fleischman – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs
Gianna Lombardi – 2-for-4 | 1 RBI
HOW IT HAPPENED
- As the second batter of the game, Donnelly took the second pitch she faced over the center field wall. After Arredondo drew a walk, Albayati hit a two-run blast over center to put the Cougars up 3-0.
- CSUSB got on the board in the second after Mia Escujuri hit an RBI double to left to make it 3-1 CSUSM.
- In the fourth, Prater sent the ball over the fence for a solo homer to put CSUSM up 4-1.
- The Coyotes made it 4-2 in the bottom of the frame on a Sarah Moite RBI single to center field.
- The Cougars added another run in the fifth on a Fleischman RBI single up the middle to raise their lead to 5-2.
- CSUSM scored five runs on five hits and two CSUSB errors in the top of the sixth to make it 10-2.
- Savannah Coyle retired the side with a fly out, strikeout and line out in the bottom of the sixth.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM reliever Savannah Coyle (10-7) picked up the win after tossing 2.2 shutout innings, allowing only one hit and striking out two batters.
- CSUSB starter Samantha Vargas (10-7) recorded the loss after giving up three runs on two hits and two walks in one inning in the circle.
- This was Donnelly's sixth home run of 2024 while Prater registered her first of the season. Arredondo collected her second homer of the series and third of the season.
- After reaching base in both games of Friday's doubleheader, Donnelly extended her streak to 21 games while raising her hitting streak to 16.
- With the wins, the Cougars moved into third place in the CCAA standings, one game back from Cal State Dominguez Hills and Sonoma State who are tied for first at 16-10. CSUSB dropped to fourth place and is a half-game behind CSUSM.
- Donnelly is now tied with Madison Waymire with a team-leading 12 multi-hit games
- Albayati has now recorded three RBIs in three games this season, raising her total to eight multi-RBI games in 2024 and ranking her second behind Donnelly's 10 on the team.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will return home for their final regular-season homestand next weekend when they host Cal State East Bay. On Saturday, CSUSM will honor its lone senior Klarissa Munoz prior to first pitch of the doubleheader.
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- Sloss Named CCAA Pitcher of the Year, Seven Cougars Earn All-CCAA NodsEntering the CCAA Softball Tournament as the No. 2 seed while hosting at CSUSM Softball Field this week, the Cal State San Marcos softball team placed seven on the 2024 All-CCAA team highlighted by Jayline Sloss being named CCAA Pitcher of the Year, announced by the conference office on Tuesday.
