SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Grand slams by Paige Donnelly and Madison Waymire lifted the No. 23 Cal State San Marcos softball team (23-14, 11-9 CCAA) to a doubleheader sweep on Sunday over Cal State Monterey Bay (14-23, 8-16, CCAA) by scores of 4-3 and 4-2.
From CSUSM Baseball's recap (by Tyler Morrison)
The Cal State San Marcos baseball team saw history in the making on Sunday as softball student-athlete Jillian Albayati became the first woman to ever play baseball at Cal State San Marcos.
After the sophomore softball infielder celebrated her team's walk-off grand slam against Cal State Monterey Bay, Albayati sprinted down the dusty path to CSUSM Baseball Field. Donning No. 42 – an already famous jersey number in baseball history – the Anaheim native entered the baseball team's game against Sonoma State (16-18, 10-14 CCAA) as a relief pitcher with no outs in the top of the ninth inning.
In doing so, Albayati became the first NCAA Division II student-athlete to play in both a softball and baseball game on the same day. She became just the second student-athlete in collegiate history to accomplish the feat as Christina Elsbury from NCAA Division III's Galluadet University first accomplished the feat, pitching in both a softball and baseball game on April 22, 2023.
GAME 1: No. 23 CSUSM 4 - CSUDH 3
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-4 | 4 RBIs | 1 R | 1 HR
Savannah Coyle – 2-for-3 | 1 3B
Marissa Morales – 2-for-2 | 1 R | 1 SAC
Aneesa Arredondo – 2-for-3
Makenzie Guiliano – 1-for-3 | 1 R
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Otters took a 1-0 lead on a CSUSM error in the second inning.
- A sacrifice fly by Oli Perez plated Jackie Peralas, who began the inning with a single to center and doubled CSUMB's lead to 2-0.
- Peralas' RBI single up the middle in the fourth scored Abby Alcayaga who drew a one-out walk.
- With the bases loaded and a 2-0 count in the seventh inning, Donnelly crushed a line drive over the left-center wall for a walk-off grand slam.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM reliever Dahlia Fink (3-1) collected the win after four innings of work, relinquishing one run on one hit and four walks while striking out two.
- CSUMB starter Mackenzie Willis (10-10) took the loss after 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on 10 hits and no walks.
- Donnelly recorded her ninth multi-RBI game of the season and her second four-RBI game.
- This was Donnelly's second grand slam of her collegiate career with her first coming at Cal State San Bernardino in her freshman campaign.
GAME 2: No. 23 CSUSM 4 – CSUDH 2
TOP PERFORMERS
Madison Waymire – 1-for-3 | 4 RBIs | 1 HR
Makenzie Guiliano – 1-for-2 | 1 R
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-3 | 1 R
Paige Donnelly – 1-for-3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Otters once again took an early 1-0 lead as Anastacia Alba scored on a CSUSM error in the first inning.
- After singles by Arredondo and Guiliano followed by a walk by Marissa Morales, Waymire hit a grand slam to dead center on a 2-2 count to put CSUSM up 4-1 in the second inning.
- CSUMB pushed one more run across in the fifth inning on a single by Alba to make it 4-2.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM starter Savannah Coyle (9-7) picked up the win after going 6.1 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits and no walks while striking out two batters.
- Dillyn Collins (1) earned her first collegiate save after recording a fly out and a ground out in the top of the seventh.
- CSUMB starter Savannah Madrigal (3-7) registered the loss after giving up four runs on six hits and one walk.
- This was Waymire's first collegiate grand slam.
- After reaching base in both games of Sunday's doubleheader, Donnelly extended her streak to 15 games.
- The Cougars added another double play to raise their total to 24, a NCAA Division II best.
- CSUSM collected its second series win with a 3-1 record this weekend against CSUMB.
- With the wins, the Cougars moved into fourth place in the CCAA standings, 2.5 games behind Sonoma State and Cal State Dominguez Hills who are tied for second place.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will take their final break of conference play during the regular season on Tuesday when they host Vanguard in a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Latest Women's Softball
- 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.
- Cougars Crowned 2024 CCAA Tournament ChampionsThe 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.
- CSUSM Advances to CCAA Tournament Championship GameSAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Cal State San Marcos (34-19) softball team punched its ticket to the CCAA Tournament Championship game with a 4-1 victory over Cal State East Bay on Friday afternoon at CSUSM Softball Field.
- CSUSM Wins CCAA Tournament Opener Against CSUDH, 5-2The Cal State San Marcos (33-19) softball team recorded a 5-2 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in the Cougars' CCAA Tournament opening game on Thursday afternoon at CSUSM Softball Field.
- CSUSM Hosts CCAA Championships, Opens Against CSUDHThe Cal State San Marcos softball team (32-19), who is hosting the CCAA Championship this week at CSUSM Softball Field, will enter the tournament with a bye as the No. 2 seed. The Cougars are slated to play at 1 p.m. against No. 3-seeded Cal State Dominguez Hills on Thursday, May 2.
- 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.
