Softball Squad Comes Out Swinging; Upsets #10 Concordia in Opener
February 3, 2007

Complete Box Scores »» Game 1     Game 2

So much for a slow start.

Cal State San Marcos' inaugural softball team opened its season on Saturday with a road double-header against the 10th ranked team in the nation, and held their own just fine. After a 9-3 loss in game one to Concordia, the San Marcos squad pulled the upset in game two by the score of 8-3, marking the first win in the program's history.

According to head coach Jennifer Milo, the team came out nervous in the first game - and it showed. Starting pitcher Erica Coelho's good off-speed stuff didn't fool the Eagles' hitters, as they pushed across 6 runs in her 2.2 innings of work. A four-run second inning for Concordia was highlighted by an RBI double by Ashley Evans. Then in the fourth, the Eagles blew the game open with a three-run homer by first baseman Ashley Alvarez, who totaled 5 RBI in the contest.

For the Cougars, Melissa Lerno and Elizabeth Bush - both of whom would figure prominently later in the day - had solid games. Lerno came in to pitch shortly after the Alvarez homer, and promptly shut down the Eagles' offense, striking out 5 in her 2.2 innings of work. Bush singled in a pair of runs in the fourth to get the Cougars closer, but reliever Rachel Reekstin would allow no further damage as the Eagles held on to win 8-3.

Game two would tell a different story. Coming off the tough loss, Coach Milo's squad was unphased.

The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second, thanks to some well-executed small-ball and defensive miscues. After Lerno led off the inning with a walk and Lindsey Preovolos reached on an error, Malarie Barnard was able to move the runners over with a sac bunt. An Aly Brown pop-out made it two outs in the inning, and Leilani Madrigal struck out to seemingly end the rally. However, the ball got past the catcher, and Madrigal was able to reach first and keep the inning alive. That set the table for leadoff hitter Danielle Tucker, who singled up the middle to drive in a pair of runs - the only 2 runs Eagles' starter Kory Briggs would allow.

The Eagles would get a run back in the third after a wild pitch and an error, making the score 2-1. In the fifth, the Cougars pushed the lead to 3-1 when Holly Russell scored on a Preovolos single.

Behind the excellent pitching of Melissa Lerno, the Cougars carried that 3-1 lead into the bottom of the 7th inning. With two outs and an 0-2 count on the hitter, victory looked certain for the squad. Ashley Alvarez had other ideas, however, as she knocked the 0-2 pitch past the infield, driving in a pair of runs and sending the game into extra innings.

Concordia nearly completed the comeback in the 8th, but Lerno struck out Beth Christianson with two outs and runners at the corners to keep the Cougars alive.

And in the 9th, the Cougars would open the floodgates. With one out in the inning, Bush singled off Reekstin to drive in the go-ahead run. Tasha Stokes then drew a walk, and an error allowed Bush to score. Another walk loaded the bases, and Malarie Barnard crushed a double down the left field line to plate two runs. Another error allowed the fifth and final run of the inning to score.

Though the Cougars had built a 5-run lead, it was by no means safe, as Concordia loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the 9th. Just as it looked like the Cougars might lose their second lead of the game, Elizabeth Bush came to the rescue. Caitlyn Senkbeil drove a ball to right field, and Bush was able to track it down and make the catch. She then threw a strike to catcher Tasha Stokes, who tagged out the runner trying to score for an improbable double-play. A ground-out to the pitcher wrapped up the thrilling first win in the history of CSUSM softball.

"We showed a huge amount of poise," remarked coach Milo. "To come back with that kind of effort shows tremendous strength."

More impressive than the way the squad won is the team they beat. Aside from being the preseason #10 team in the nation, Concordia finished 6th nationally last year. To split a road double-header against that caliber of an opponent speaks volumes towards this Cougar squad's potential, especially when you consider that this was the first game-day ever for the program.

The team will look to keep the momentum going through a February 6th doubleheader against Biola, and into the team's home opener on February 10th vs. Vanguard. While it's too early to get a feel for exactly how this team will fare in the NAIA's brutal Region II, a performance like today's ensures that they'll be competitive from day one. All fans are welcome to head out to Mission Hills High at noon on the 10th to participate in the opening day festivities and watch this team in action!