SAN MARCOS - Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State San Marcos split a California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) softball doubleheader, Saturday at the CSUSM Softball Field. CSUDH prevailed in game one 3-2 in eight innings and dropped the series finale 9-1 in six innings. Combined with Friday's results, the two teams split the four-game series 2-2.
 
The Toros are 13-25 overall and 9-19 in the CCAA. The Cougars are now 10-32 overall and 6-32 in conference play.
 
CSUDH will play Concordia Irvine on Tuesday, April 10 at 1 p.m. in a non-conference doubleheader for its next matchup.
 
Game One - Cal State Dominguez Hille 3, Cal State San Marcos 2 (8 innings)
With the score even at 2-2, senior outfielder Kayla Lock hit a RBI single in the top of the eighth for the go-ahead run as the Toros took game one, 3-2, in extra innings. Lock finished the contest with two hits and two RBI. Sophomore infielder Kendelle Messersmith and senior infielder Alexis Pintado each had one hit and one run. Senior pitcher Alyssa Valinches won her sixth game of the year, throwing all eight frames and striking out three in the process.
 
CSUDH scored the first two runs of the game, one in the third and the other in the sixth. Pintado drew a walk and came all the way home from first on a double to right field from Lock in the third. In the sixth, Messersmith drew four balls to reach first, advanced to second as Pintado was also walked and was pinch ran for by junior Lexi Madrid. Madrid touched home plate as sophomore outfielder Kelcy Telles forced a CSUSM error to give the Toros a 2-0 advantage.
 
The Cougars did not go down with a fight. Three hits and one CSUDH error led to two runs for CSUSM to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. The Toros responded immediately in the eighth inning. Messersmith singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch and took third on a sacrifice bunt from Pintado. Pintado would come home on Lock's single to give CSUDH the lead and Valinches retired the Cougars in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
 
Game Two - Cal State San Marcos 9, Cal State Dominguez Hills 1 (6 innings)
The Toros gave up five runs in the sixth inning as CSUSM prevailed 9-1. Senior Outfielder Doreen Corella had CSUDH's lone RBI.
 
CSUSM took a 4-0 lead after one run in the second inning and three in the third. The Toros got one back in the top of the fourth. Junior catcher Rachael Sandoval singled and took second on junior outfielder Damari Simon's base hit. Corella knocked one up the middle to plate Sandoval to prevent the shutout. The Cougars would end the game early, scoring five in the bottom of the sixth.