SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 23 Cal State San Marcos softball team (21-14, 9-9 CCAA) split Saturday's doubleheader against Cal State Monterey Bay (8-14, 14-21 CCAA), dropping the series opener 2-1 in eight innings before posting a 5-2 victory in the nightcap.
 
GAME: No. 23 CSUSM  1 - CSUDH 2 (8 innings)

TOP PERFORMERS
Czar Fleischman – 1-for-4 | 1 R | 1 SB
Savannah Coyle – 1-for-3
Gianna Lombardi – 1-for-3
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-3
Makenzie Guiliano – 1-for-3

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After five scoreless innings, CSUMB was the first to get on the board with an RBI single through the left side by Anastacia Alba to make it 1-0.
• The Cougars quickly responded in the bottom of the sixth inning. Fleischman led off with a single, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a wild pitch to make it 1-1.
• With two outs in the eighth, Alba drew an eight-pitch walk before scoring on an RBI double by Oli Perez to put the Otters back on top at 2-1.

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss (11-5) took the loss after eight innings of action, giving up two runs on six hits, two walks and one wild pitch.
• CSUMB reliever Mackenzie Willis (10-9) collected the win after 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and one walk. 
• The Cougars recorded their NCAA Division II-leading 22nd double play in the sixth inning for the final two outs.

GAME 2: No. 23 CSUSM 5 – CSUDH 2

TOP PERFORMERS
Jillian Albayati – 2-for-3 | 1 R
Paige Donnelly – 1-for-2 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 1 2B | 1 BB
Makenzie Guiliano – 1-for-3 | 1 R | 1 RBI | 1 SB
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-2 | 1 BB

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM wasted no time in the nightcap, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening inning on a sacrifice fly by Savannah Coyle.
• The Cougars doubled their lead in the next inning on a hard-hit infield single by Guiliano that went off the Otters' pitcher's extended glove and scored Albayati.
• The Otters cut the deficit in half with an RBI single up the middle by Jackie Perales in the third inning.
• CSUSM extended its lead to 3-1 on Donnelly's RBI double to left center that scored Guiliano in the fifth inning.
• The Cougars got two insurance runs in the sixth inning. Fleischman scored her second run of the day on a wild pitch and CSUSM got its final run on an Otter throwing error.

QUICK HITS

• CSUSM starter Savannah Coyle (8-7) collected the win after going four innings, allowing one run on two hits and one walk.
• CSUMB starter Kelsey Alcantara (1-6) picked up the loss after 1.1 innings, relinquishing two runs on two hits, two wild pitches and one walk.
• Donnelly tallied her fifth multi-hit game of the season.
• The Cougars added another double play to raise their total to 23, a NCAA Division II best.

UP NEXT
CSUSM will close out its four-game series against CSUMB on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 10:30 a.m.