Cal State San Marcos’ historic softball season came to an end Saturday when the Cougars lost to Central Oklahoma 10-6 at the NCAA Division II World Series in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Earlier in the day, the eighth-seeded Cougars staved off going home in the double-elimination tournament by beating fourth-seeded Wilmington (Del.) 3-2. CSUSM opened the tournament with a 5-1 loss to No. 1-seeded University of Texas-Tyler.
The season marked the first time the Cougars (33-21) advanced to the Division II World Series.
“I’m extremely proud of the team and the fight they had all year and specifically the fight they had today,” coach Stef Ewing said by phone. “It’s never easy for your season to end, but we definitely left it all on the field today. As a coach, I couldn’t be happier.”
In the win against Wilmington (44-16), Savannah Coyle (16-7) pitched a complete game, allowing one earned run and four hits in seven innings. The left-hander from Rancho Buena Vista High School struck out four and didn’t walk a batter.
Down 1-0, the Cougars scored all three of their runs in the fourth inning with just one hit, a single. Three walks, two fielder’s choices and a throwing error aided the rally. Ryann Steiner and Makenzie Guiliano drove in runs in the inning.
Second-seeded Central Oklahoma (54-8), the 2013 Division II World Series champion, won its first game in the tournament on Thursday and played just one game Saturday.
The 10 runs CSUSM allowed were the most since the third game of the season, a 14-4 loss to Division I Montana State.
Central Oklahoma scored five runs in the second inning. Down 6-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Cal State San Marcos scored four runs, pulling to within 6-5. The Cougars had four straight run-producing at-bats in the inning.
Central Oklahoma scored three runs in the fifth inning to pull away. Guiliano went 3-for-4 with an RBI in the game. Bianca Gutierrez went 2-for-3, scored two runs and knocked in one. Czar Fleischman drove in two runs.
Jaylin Sloss (11-9) took the loss for the Cougars, allowing six earned runs in four innings.
Cal State San Marcos moved from NAIA to Division II in 2017 and was postseason-eligible the next season. The Cougars have put together back-to-back successful seasons. A year ago, they finished 45-14 and won the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
Said Ewing: “There’s no doubt in my mind we’ll be here next year with another opportunity to win a national championship.”
