BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Cal State San Marcos softball team (36-20) opened the NCAA Division II West Regional with a 9-1 five-inning victory over Cal State East Bay (29-23) on Thursday afternoon at Viking Field on the campus of Western Washington.
TOP PERFORMERS
Aneesa Arredondo – 2-for-3 | 4 RBIs | 1 R | 1 3B
Czar Fleischman – 2-for-2 | 1 R | 1 RBI
Jillian Albayati – 1-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 HR
Paige Donnelly – 1-for-3 | 1 R | 1 RBI | 1 HR
Madison Waymire – 0-1 | 2 R | 1 BB
Mackenzie Kestler – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI | 1 R
HOW IT HAPPENED
- East Bay got things started in the third inning with an Adriana Martinez RBI double off the right field wall to take a 1-0 lead.
- CSUSM put up seven runs on seven hits in the bottom of the third inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Arredondo hit a 3-RBI triple to right center to get the scoring rolling. Albayati followed with a 2-RBI homer over the left field wall. The final two runs came on RBI singles by Kestler and Fleischman to put CSUSM up 7-1.
- The Cougars stayed hot in the bottom of the fourth with a Donnelly solo home run to left center and an Arredondo RBI single to extend the lead to 9-1.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss (18-8) collected the win after giving up one run on five hits, two hit batters and one walk while striking out six over five innings of work.
- CSUEB's starter Marissa Quintero took the loss after 2.2 innings in the circle, allowing seven runs on six hits and one walk.
- The Cougars collected their 37th NCAA Division II-leading double play in the fourth inning on a line-out unassisted play by Donnelly at first base.
- Waymire recorded her ninth multi-RBI game, keeping her third on the team.
- Arredondo recorded her team-leading third triple of the season.
- Albayati raised her multi-RBI season total to 11, which ranks second on the team.
- Arredondo's four RBIs were a season best.
- This was CSUSM's eighth time playing the Pioneers this season with the Cougars winning five of the eight.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will next face host and top-seed Western Washington at 10 a.m. on Friday morning at Viking Field.
Latest Women's Softball
- Donnelly, Sloss Named to D2 CCA All-West Region TeamPaige Donnelly and Jayline Sloss of the Cal State San Marcos softball team were named to the 2024 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) All-West Region Softball First Team on Monday.
- Cougars’ Postseason Run Comes to EndThe Cal State San Marcos softball team (37-22) saw its third consecutive postseason run come to an end with a pair of losses to host and top-seed Western Washington (46-8) on Saturday afternoon at Viking Field. The Cougar dropped a 7-1 decision in the first game, forcing an 'if-necessary' game that resulted in a 2-1 heartbreaker.
- Cougars Advance to Championship Game with 4-3 Win Over Top-Seed WWUThe Cal State San Marcos softball team (37-20) secured its spot in the NCAA Division II West Regional Championship Game in Bellingham, Washington with a 4-3 victory over host and top-seed Western Washington (43-8) on Friday afternoon at Viking Field.
- Sloss, Donnelly, Waymire Earn NFCA All-West Region NodsThe Cal State San Marcos softball team had three Cougars named to the 2024 NFCA Division II All-West Region teams, the association announced on Thursday. Pitcher Jayline Sloss and first baseman Paige Donnelly were selected to the first team while outfielder Madison Waymire received a second-team nod.
- CSUSM Faces East Bay Again in West Regional OpenerThe Cal State San Marcos softball team (35-20) will look to defend its West Regional title in the next seven days as the Cougars open NCAA postseason play against Cal State East Bay on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Bellingham, Washington, on the campus of Western Washington.
- Cougars Earn No. 4 Seed in NCAA RegionalAs CCAA Tournament Champions, the reigning West Regional champion Cal State San Marcos softball team earned the automatic bid to the NCAA West Regional and will be the No. 4 seed as announced on the NCAA Division II Softball Selection Show on Monday morning.
