BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The 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.
TOP PERFORMERS
Mackenzie Kestler – 2-for-3 | 2 R | 1 2B
Jillian Albayati – 1-for-4 | 1 HR
Makenzie Guiliano – 1-for-2 | 2 RBIs | 1 SF
Czar Fleischman – 1-for-2 | 1 SF | 1 RBI
Gianna Lombardi – 1-for-2 | 1 RBI
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Vikings got on the board first in the opening inning, taking advantage of a wild pitch and a CSUSM error to go up 1-0.
- The Cougars quickly responded in the next frame with a sacrifice fly by Guiliano that plated Kestler and evened the game at 1-1.
- A solo home run by Albayati to left field broke the tie in the third inning.
- The Cougars put up a two-spot in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Fleischman and an RBI single to center by Guiliano to make it 4-1.
- After starting pitcher Jayline Sloss fanned the first two batters, WWU's Kanileua Pitoy hit a double to left and scored on pinch hitter Riley Anderson's RBI single up the middle. After pinch hitter Amaya Davis hit an RBI double to make it 4-3, Sloss got the next batter to ground out to second to halt the rally and clinch the win for CSUSM.
QUICK HITS
- CSUSM starter Jayline Sloss (19-8) picked up the complete-game victory after giving up three runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out seven.
- WWU's starter Joie Baker (12-4) took the loss after three innings in the circle, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks.
- Sloss retired the side in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
- This was Guiliano's first multi-RBI game of the season.
- Knocking in her second home run in as many games, Albayati raised her season total to six.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will face Western Washington once again in the West Regional Championship Game on Saturday. First pitch is slated for noon with the 'if-neccessary' game slated for 2:30 p.m.
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