CHICO, Calif. –  The Cal State San Marcos (30-19, 18-12 CCAA) softball team punched its ticket to the CCAA Championship with a 4-3 victory in the series opener at Chico State (13-27, 12-22 CCAA). The Cougars concluded the day with an 8-7 nine-inning victory to complete the doubleheader sweep.
 
GAME 1:  CSUSM 4 – CHICO 3

TOP PERFORMERS
Jillian Albayati – 3-for-3 | 1 RBI | 1 R
Brooklyn Ury – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 2B
Aneesa Arredondo – 2-for-3 | 2 R | 1 BB
Dahlia Fink – 1-for-3 | 1 RBI
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Cougars went up 1-0 in the first inning on an RBI single to left field by Albayati that plated Donnelly, who had reached on a walk.
• The Wildcats evened the game at 1-all in the bottom of the second on an RBI single by Karlie Bilbrey.
• CSUSM quickly responded in the next frame with a Ury 2-RBI double over the third baseman to put the Cougars back on top at 3-1.
• In the fifth inning, the Wildcats made it a one-run ballgame once again at 3-2 with an RBI single by Lilly Cante.
• CSUSM got an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single up the middle by Fink to make it 4-2.
• The Wildcats put together a rally in the bottom of the frame, scoring on a Tayler Berens' RBI double to left center, but relief pitcher Savannah Coyle retired the next three batters with a fly out and two strikeouts.

 
QUICK HITS

• Cougar starter Daihla Fink (5-2) collected the win after five innings of action, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk while striking out two batters.
• Chico's Amelie Valdez (7-15) took the loss after 6.1 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits and four walks while fanning six batters.  
• Albayati tallied her 10th multi-hit game this season and her fourth time recording three hits.

GAME 2: CSUSM 8 - Chico 7 (9 inn.)

TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 3-for-5 | 2 RBIs | 1 2B
Aneesa Arredondo – 2-for-3 | 1 R | 1 RBI
Jillian Albayati – 2-for-5 | 2 RBIs | 1 2B
Madison Waymire – 2-for-5 | 2 R | 2 RBIs | 1 2B
Czar Fleischman – 1-for-3 | 1 R | 1 SB | 1 HBP
Makenzie Guiliano – 1-for-3 | 2 R | 1 HBP

HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUSM went up 2-0 on a 2-RBI double through the right side by Donnelly in the second inning.
• The Cougars added to their lead in the third inning on an RBI single to left center by Arredondo that made it 3-0.
• A two-out, 2-RBI single up the middle by Waymire followed by a 2-RBI double by Albayati extended CSUSM's lead to 7-0 in the top of the sixth inning.
• The Wildcat offense came alive after a lightning delay in the bottom of the sixth as Chico scored four runs on a bases-clearing double by Brianna Swihart and an RBI single by Lilly Cante.
• Chico evened the game in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double by Gracie Dunning and a Swihart single to force extra innings.
• After a scoreless eighth inning by both teams, the Cougars got things rolling in the ninth. Arredondo drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a ground out before scoring on Fleischman's single up the middle, past a diving second baseman.
• After retiring the first batter with a ground out, starter Jayline Sloss gave up a triple to Dunning before striking out the next two batters to claim the win.

 
QUICK HITS

• Sloss (14-8), who pitched the first six and the last two innings, allowed two runs on five hits en route to picking up the win. For the second consecutive outing, Sloss matched her career high of eight strikeouts.  
• Chico reliever Sophia Tassinari (1-1) recorded the loss after relinquishing one run on three hits and two walks in 3.1 innings in the circle.
• The Cougars registered their 34th double play of the season and remain the NCAA Division II leader.
• Donnelly's double raised her season total to 13, ranking second in the CCAA.
• Waymire moved her run total for the season to a CCAA-leading 43, eight more than Sonoma State's Giana Hays who ranks second.
• Donnelly leads the team in multi-RBIs games, raising her total to 11.

UP NEXT
The Cougars will wrap up their regular season with an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Saturday at Chico State.