SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The (RV) Cal State San Marcos softball team (43-21) opened the 2025 NCAA Division II West Super Regional with a 9-1, six-inning mercy-ruled victory over No. 9 Western Washington on Thursday afternoon at CSUSM Softball Field.
TOP PERFORMERS
Mackenzie Kestler – 2-for-3 | 3 RBIs | 1 R | 1 SAC
Paige Donnelly – 2-for-4 | 1 R | 1 2B
Jillian Albayati – 2-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 2 2B
Czar Fleischman – 2-for-2 | 1 R | 2 RBIs | 1 2B | 1 BB
Aneesa Arredondo – 1-for-4 | 2 R
HOW IT HAPPENED
- CSUSM took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a 2-RBI double to right center by Jillian Albayati.
- The Vikings pushed their lone run across in the top of the third on a fielder's choice by Hailey Rath to make it 2-1 CSUSM.
- In the fourth inning, the Cougars pushed three more runs across on a Czar Fleischman 2-RBI double to left center and a Madison Waymire RBI single up the middle to make it 5-1.
- The Cougars added another run in the fifth on a Mackenzie Kestler RBI single to right center.
- CSUSM notched the win with three runs in the sixth inning as Gianna Lombardi hit an RBI single to left field before Kestler knocked out a 2-RBI single of the pitcher to win the game.
QUICK HITS
- Cougar pitcher Jayline Sloss (19-9) earned the win after tossing five innings and allowing one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out five batters.
- WWU starting pitcher Alli Kimball (16-4) picked up the loss after allowing two runs on three hits while recording no outs.
- CSUSM reliever Savannah Coyle threw a shuout sixth inning with two strikeouts and a groundout.
- The Cougars are now 3-3 in the all-time series against WWU and 1-0 when playing at CSUSM Softball Field.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will have two chances to secure the 2025 NCAA Division II West Super Regional title on Friday. The first game is slated to begin at 11 a.m. with the "if necessary" game following at approximately 1:30 p.m.
Latest Women's Softball
- CSUSM's Postseason Run Comes to an EndThe RV Cal State San Marcos softball team (43-23) saw its 2025 season come to an end on Friday, dropping back-to-back games (4-1, 3-2) in the NCAA Division II West Super Regional to No. 9 Western Washington (45-11) at CSUSM Softball Field.
- CSUSM Hosts Western Washington in NCAA West Super RegionalThe Cal State San Marcos softball team (42-21) is making its third NCAA Division II West Super Regional appearance this week, hosting Western Washington in a best-of-three series with a noon start time on Thursday, May 15 and an 11 a.m. start on Friday, May 16. If the series is split at that point, the teams will play a deciding game at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 16 to determine who will advance to the NCAA Division II World Series on May 22-28 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Waymire, Donnelly Named to D2 CCA All-West Region TeamPaige Donnelly and Madison Waymire of the Cal State San Marcos softball team were named to the 2025 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2 CCA) All-West Region Softball teams on Monday. Waymire was selected to the first team while Donnelly picked up second-team honors.
- CSUSM Once Again Punches Ticket to NCAA Division II West Super RegionalThe Cal State San Marcos softball team (42-21) did exactly what was needed to be done to advance in the NCAA West Regional, taking down second-seeded and host San Francisco State (39-20) twice on Championship Saturday on its own field. The Cougars won by scores of 3-2 and 16-4 (five innings) to punch their ticket to the NCAA Division II West Super Regional which will be hosted by the Cougars next week.
- CSUSM Overcomes Early Loss with Nightcap Win at NCAA West RegionalAfter dropping an intense, back and forth game against San Francisco State by a score of 13-9, the Cal State San Marcos softball team (40-21) answered with a 5-0 win over Biola (39-21) in a NCAA Division II West Regional elimination game on Friday afternoon at SFSU Softball Field.
- Another Donnelly Walk-Off LIfts CSUSM Over Biola in West Regional OpenerBehind a walk-off single by Paige Donnelly, the third-seeded Cal State San Marcos softball team (39-20) collected a 3-2 victory over sixth-seeded Biola (38-20) to open the NCAA Division II West Regional on Thursday afternoon at SFSU Softball Field on the campus of San Francisco State.
