This story first appeared on CSUSMCougars.com
SAN MARCOS, Calif.– The Cal State San Marcos baseball team (19-13, 18-9 CCAA) saw history in the making on Sunday as softball student-athleteJillian Albayatibecame the first woman to ever play baseball at Cal State San Marcos.
After the sophomore softball infielder celebrated her team's walk-off grand slam against Cal State Monterey Bay, Albayati sprinted down the dusty path to CSUSM Baseball Field. Donning No. 42 – an already famous jersey number in baseball history – the Anaheim native entered the baseball team's game against Sonoma State (16-18, 10-14 CCAA) as a relief pitcher with no outs in the top of the ninth inning.
In doing so, Albayati became the first NCAA Division II student-athlete to play in both a softball and baseball game on the same day. She became just the second student-athlete in collegiate history to accomplish the feat as Christina Elsbury from NCAA Division III's Galluadet University first accomplished the feat, pitching in both a softball and baseball game on April 22, 2023.
GAME 1: CSUSM 2 – SSU 18
TOP PERFORMERS
Victor Castaneda– 2-for-4 | 1 RBI | 1 R | 1 HR
Luke Reece– 2-for-3 | 1 BB
Garrett Teunissen– 1-for-2 | 1 R | 1 BB
HOW IT HAPPENED
- SSU took a 5-0 lead in the top of the first with a two-run homer by Christopher Wright, a bases-loaded walk by Chris Ortiz and RBI by Shane Callison.
- The Seawolves doubled their lead in the top of the third on a bases-loaded walk by Sean Pauly, an error that scored Niko Tejada, a two-run single by Wright and a double play that scored Kenny Decelle to make it 10-0.
- A solo homer by Castaneda in the bottom of the fourth broke up the shutout and made it a 10-1 game.
- A sacrifice fly byCameron Mahaffyin the bottom of the fifth scored Teunissen and cut the deficit to 10-2.
- The Seawolves scored in each of the next four innings to end the game with an 18-2 win.
QUICK HITS
- SSU reliever Marcellus Henry (3-0) earned the win after allowing just two walks and a hit-by-pitch while striking out one in 2.0 innings.
- CSUSM starterSpencer Anderson(1-1) took the loss after allowing 10 runs (seven earned) on eight hits and four walks while striking out three in 2.0 innings.
- Phoenix Sommayextended his reached-base streak to 26 games but saw his hitting streak snapped at 21 games.
- Mahaffy improved his own reached-base streak to 21 games.
GAME 2: CSUSM 6 – SSU 7 (7 Inn.)
TOP PERFORMERS
Luke Reece– 2-for-4 | 2 RBIs | 1 2B
Jordan Ku– 2-for-3 | 2 R | 1 RBI | 1 HR
Garrett Teunissen– 2-for-3 | 1 R | 1 RBI | 1 2B | 1 SF
Victor Castaneda– 2-for-3 | 1 R | 1 3B | 1 BB
Phoenix Sommay– 2-for-4 | 1 R
Ethan Rivera– 2-for-3 | 1 BB
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Seawolves took a 4-0 first-inning lead on a double play that scored Sean Pauly, a two-run single by Chris Ortiz and an RBI single by Zach White.
- SSU went up 5-0 in the top of the second with a sac fly by Garrett Barto.
- In the top of the third, a Cougar error allowed Daniel Monti to score and make it 6-0 for the Seawolves.
- SSU scored its final run in the top of the fourth with a sac fly by Ortiz to make it 7-0.
- CSUSM finally got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a four-run inning from an RBI single byBradley Chesterton, a sac fly by Teunissen, a wild pitch that scored Ku and an RBI single by Reece to cut the deficit to 7-4.
- The Cougars attempted the come-from-behind win in the bottom of the seventh as Ku hit a solo shot before an RBI double by Reece pulled CSUSM within a run at 7-6 with one out. After a four-pitch walk by Rivera,Ruben Cedillocame on to pinch run. A passed ball moved the Cougars to second and third with two outs before Castaneda was ultimately intentionally walked. The comeback was not meant to be as a deep fly out to left ended the game and split the series.
QUICK HITS
- SSU starter Tanner Fonoti (4-3) earned the win as he struck out three while allowing four runs on eight hits in 5.0 innings.
- Nick Kamages (S, 3) earned the save for the Seawolves as he came on with a three-run lead in the top of the sixth and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two in 2.0 innings.
- CSUSM starterIsaac Ontiveros(3-1) took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits and four walks in two-thirds of an inning.
- Sommay improved his reached-base streak to 27 games.
- Teunissen tallied his team-leading 16th multi-hit game of the year.
- Reece notched his team-best 11th multi-RBI game.
UP NEXT
Still atop the CCAA standings, CSUSM will head to third-place Cal Poly Pomona for a four-game series beginning on Friday, April 12 at 6 p.m.