SEASIDE, Calif.  – The Cal State San Marcos softball team (24-17, 17-11 CCAA) won its fourth conference series to clinch a spot in the 2023 CCAA Conference Tournament with a doubleheader sweep at Cal State Monterey Bay (26-22, 17-15 CCAA) on Saturday by scores of 5-1 and 6-1.
 
GAME 1: CSUSM 5 – CSUMB 1
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-2 | 2 BB | 1 2B
Mackenzie Kestler – 2-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 BB
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 R | 1 SF
Makenzie Guiliano – 2-for-3 | 1 R
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• CSUMB took a 1-0 lead on an Ally Alcayaga sacrifice fly in the first inning.
• In the fourth, Donnelly led off with a walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Arredondo before being relieved by pinch runner Sammie Olivo. A Kestler single to shortstop moved Olivo to third who later scored on a groundout by Coyle to make it 1-1.
• With the bases loaded in the fifth, Arredondo slipped one down the left line for a 2-RBI double. Kestler followed with a 2-RBI single that dropped in front of the right fielder to put CSUSM up 5-1.
• Coyle recorded two strikeouts and forced a fielder's choice in the seventh to end the game.
   

QUICK HITS

• Coyle (12-6) pitched six shutout innings in relief for the win, relinquishing five hits and three walks.
• Cougar starter Zoe Ballen went just one inning for the no decision after allowing one run on one hit and three walks.
• Otter starter Cassidy Gasper went 4.1 innings for the loss, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks.
• Gutierrez extended her reached-base streak to a team-leading 17 games.
• Donnelly raised her multi-hit games total to 12, pulling alongside Gutierrez for the most on the team this season.
   

GAME 2: CSUSM 6 – CSUMB 1
 
TOP PERFORMERS
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-3 | 2 R | 2 RBIs | 1 HR | 1 BB
Aneesa Arredondo – 2-for-3 | 1 R | 1 BB
Mackenzie Kestler – 1-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 1 HR
Delaney Prater – 1-for-3 | 2 RBIs | 1 SB
Bianca Gutierrez – 1-for-4 | 1 R
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• For the first time in the series, CSUSM struck first with three runs in the first inning. Gutierrez reached first on an Otter error to begin the game, advanced to second on a sac bunt by Madison Waymire and scored on Donnelly's single up the middle. With two outs on the board, Kestler sent the ball to deep center for a two-run homer.
• Three consecutive singles and a CSUSM error gave CSUMB its only run of the game in the second inning.
• A solo home run by Donnelly and a 2-RBI single through the right side by Prater doubled CSUSM's lead at 6-1 in the third inning.

 
QUICK HITS

• Cougar starter Jayline Sloss (6-7) tossed a complete game for the win, giving up one unearned run on six hits and two walks while fanning six batters.
• Otter starter Kassidy Stetler (9-13) past yesterday's shortest start of the season, going only 2.1 innings while allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits.
• Gutierrez extended her reached-base streak to a team-leading 18 games.
• Donnelly now leads the team with 13 multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI games.
• Kestler tallied her first home run of the season while Donnelly became the CSUSM season home run leader with seven. 
• In the four games, CSUSM tallied a 1.48 ERA to CSUMB's 4.34 ERA.

 
THOUGHTS FROM HEAD COACH STEF EWING
"Our bats came alive this weekend. It is a great time for us to start pitching and hitting well. This group has continued to grind no matter what the circumstances."
 
UP NEXT
The Cougars will return home next week to close out their regular season, hosting Stanislaus State in a four-game series on Friday and Saturday.