Grand Slams Galore Lift No. 23 Cougars to Sweep Over CSUMB
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
- 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.
- Cougars Run-Rule Pioneers to Begin NCAA West RegionalThe 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.
- 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.