FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Fred Baer
(650) 483-3733
baerf@smccd.edu
CSM Softball has Twin 9-0 Wins to Open Season; Falls to State Champ Mt. Sac Comeback in 3rd Game
BAKERSFIELD – College of San Mateo opened the 2020 women’s softball season in impressive fashion at the Bakersfield Invitational on Friday, sweeping Santiago Canyon and host Bakersfield College, both by 9-0 scores in abbreviated 5-inning (mercy-rule) games. Freshman Shea Moreno and sophomore all-stater Amanda Weitenhagen slugged home runs.
All-state returnee Riley Donovan (out of Hallf Moon Bay High) and Moreno had a pair of hits in each game. Freshman Kealani Cardona (Hillsdale High) allowed just one hit over four innings in the opener. Frosh Mary Mirt (Aragon) did the same going the first two frames against Bakersfield. Freshman Phelicity Faaita (James Logan) allowed just one hit over four innings of relief in the two games.
But the Lady Bulldogs, ranked No. 1 in the state at the end of the 2019 regular season, could not hold off their Southern California nemesis and defending state champion Mt. San Antonio College on Saturday. The Mounties erased a 6-2 deficit with three runs in the sixth inning and two more in the top of the seventh off Faaita to take a 7-6 victory.
Donovan had put the Bulldogs ahead in the first inning against Mt. SAC with a 2-run homer. Faaita followed with a solo blast for a quick 3-0 lead.
Mt. San Antonio had scored a 3-1 win over CSM en route to the 2019 state crown at the same Bakersfield facility last May – a marathon event that ran two extra days due to rain delays.
–Donovan and Moreno each had six opening weekend hits and are batting .750. Freshman infielder Sarah Giles (San Lorenzo) had five hits and is batting .556.
HOME OPENERS: CSM makes its 2020 home debut Friday (Jan. 31) against College of the Siskiyous at 3 p.m. The Bulldogs play Siskiyous again on Saturday at 10 a.m. and then entertain San Jose City College at 2 p.m.
(There have not been new or preseason state rankings since the final 2019 coaches poll, which had the Bulldogs on top.)
