Albayati's Walk-Off Single Completes No. 15 CSUSM's Twinbill Sweep Over Pace
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The No. 15 Cal State San Marcos softball team (22-5) completed a doubleheader sweep over visiting Pace (6-8) in non-conference action with a walk-off single by Jillian Albayati on Wednesday at CSUSM Softball Field. Final scores were 7-2 in game one and 3-2 in nine innings in the night cap.
GAME 1: CSUSM 7 – PACE 2
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 HR
Delaney Prater – 1-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 3B
Makenzie Guiliano – 1-for-3 | 2 R
Marissa Morales – 0-for-1 | 2 R | 2 BB
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Pace took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third on Brianna Shea's and Riley Jenkin's RBI singles.
- The Cougars answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Delaney Prater hit a 2-RBI triple to right field before scoring on Paige Donnelly's RBI single to right.
- A Mackenzie Kestler RBI single up the middle added to CSUSM's run total, making it 4-2 in the fourth.
- In the fifth, Donnelly sent the ball over the left field wall for a solo homer.
- The Cougars added two more runs in the sixth on a Jillian Albayati RBI single and a Pace passed ball that scored Marissa Morales.
QUICK HITS
- Cougar pitcher Savannah Coyle (6-1) collected the win after tossing four shutout innings, allowing just one hit and striking out two.
- Pace ace Gisselle Garcia (4-2) picked up the loss after giving up seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and four walks while striking out six batters.
- Paige Donnelly tallied her third home run of the season, raising CSUSM's total to 14.
- Delaney Prater's triple was her first of the season.
GAME 2: CSUSM 3 – PACE 2 (9 INN.)
TOP PERFORMERS
Jillian Albayati – 3-for-5 | 1 RBI
Madison Waymire – 1-for-2
Mackenzie Kestler – 1-for-3 | 1 R
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSUSM went up 1-0 in the bottom of the third inning on a bases-loaded RBI groundout by Delaney Prater.
- The Setters evened the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth on a wild pitch that scored Willa Poplawski.
- The Cougars retook the lead in the bottom of the frame when Marissa Morales drew a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Olivia Rivera. Morales scored after stealing third and coming home on an overthrown ball into left field to make it 2-1.
- Pace once again evened the game in the seventh, scoring on a CSUSM error.
- In the bottom of the seventh, Paige Donnelly sent the ball deep to left field before being robbed of a home run by Pace's Jade Alvarado which sent the game into extra innings.
- Jillian Albayati hit a two-out walk-off single up the middle in the bottom of the ninth.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM pitcher Savannah Coyle (8-1) picked up her second win of the day in relief after going 4.0 innings in the circle, allowing one unearned run on a hit and a walk.
- Also coming on in relief, Pace pitcher Alyssa Smart (0-2) took the loss after going 6.2 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks.
- With three double plays on the day, CSUSM raised its season total to 15, which ranks them second in the CCAA behind San Francisco State's 17.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will continue their six-game homestand with a 1 p.m. Friday doubleheader against Cal State Monterey Bay at CSUSM Softball Field.
Latest Women's Softball
- No. 18 CSUSM Begins 10-Game Homestand with Chico StateThe No. 18 Cal State San Marcos softball team (25-10, 11-9 CCAA) will begin a 10-game homestand this week with a four-game series against Chico State (19-15, 11-13 CCAA). The Cougars will host the Wildcats on Friday with a 1 p.m doubleheader before wrapping the series up with an 11 a.m twinbill on Saturday.
- No. 15 CSUSM Splits Saturday's Twinbill at HumboldtThe No. 15 Cal State San Marcos softball team (25-10, 11-9 CCAA) splits its doubleheader to Cal Poly Humboldt (22-15, 11-11 CCAA) on Saturday at Bear River Sports Complex. The Cougars took game one 7-2 before falling 4-2 in the series finale.
- No. 15 CSUSM Drops Two to Cal Poly HumboldtThe No. 15 Cal State San Marcos softball team (24-9, 10-8 CCAA) dropped a doubleheader to Cal Poly Humboldt (21-14, 10-10 CCAA) on Friday by scores of 11-3 (six innings) and 7-6 at Bear River Sports Complex.
- No. 15 CSUSM Heads to Cal Poly Humboldt for Four-Game SeriesThe No. 15 Cal State San Marcos softball team (24-7, 10-6 CCAA) will take to the road this weekend, traveling up to Cal Poly Humboldt (19-14, 8-10 CCAA) for a four-game CCAA series. Due to field conditions on campus, the games will be played at Bear River Sports Complex in Loleta. The Cougars will play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday before concluding the series with a 10 a.m. twinbill on Saturday.
- Albayati, Sloss Named to 2025 NFCA Player & Pitcher of the Year WatchlistJillian Albayati and Jayline Sloss represented Cal State San Marcos on the 2025 NFCA Player and Pitcher of the Year Watchlist as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Thursday.
- No. 15 CSUSM Earns Series Split With CSUMBThe No. 15 Cal State San Marcos softball team (24-7, 10-6 CCAA) earned a series split with Cal State Monterey Bay (16-15, 8-12 CCAA) on Saturday at CSUSM Softball Field. After falling 5-4 in game one, the Cougars rallied back with a 6-5 walk-off win in the series finale.