Softball
WALNUT, CA — Cypress College avenged an opening-game loss to the defending state champion San Mateo Bulldogs in the 3C2A State Championships with a 12-4 win in six innings and advanced to the semifinals.
With the win, Cypress (41-7) will play Cerritos (33-15) in the final game on day three of the tournament Saturday night. San Mateo ends their season with a 39-9 record.
The star of the game was pitcher Emily Rush who finished with two home runs, five RBIs, and two runs scored offensively, while picking up a complete game win in the circle with four strikeouts to improve her record to 32-5.
Postgame with @CYPRESSChargers Emily Rush, 5 RBI, 3 Hits, 2 Runs, 1 Walk, CG, 4Ks pic.twitter.com/jeTFMX74Lv
— 3CFCA (@3CFCA) May 21, 2023
The Chargers totaled nine runs in the second and third innings and never looked back, as they exploded for 13 hits in the game.
Freshman designated player Jaiden Stern started the scoring onslaught in the second inning when she hit a sacrifice fly that sent freshman right fielder Mikala Jacobsen home for the first run for Cypress. Jacobsen finished two for two with a triple and three runs scored in the game.
Rush highlighted the four-run second inning for the Chargers with a three-run blast over the left-field fence.
The Chargers extended the lead to 9-3 with five runs in the third inning with Jacobsen again adding the spark when she hit a triple to right, scoring Camryn Addimando for the first run of the inning. Cameron Curiel followed two batters later with an RBI single to bring in Jacobsen.
Rush drew a bases-loaded walk to score Curiel and Jaylene Durate capped off the inning with a two-run single through the left side.
Postgame with @CYPRESSChargers Jaylene Durarte, 2 RBIs, 2 Hits 1 Run pic.twitter.com/JhUnXCdarl
— 3CFCA (@3CFCA) May 21, 2023
Cypress scored two more runs in the fifth when Rush hit her second home run of the game, this time a solo shot to left. Camryn Addimando added another run on an RBI single. Pinch hitter Vanessa Correa ended the game on RBI single to left to give the Chargers the run-rule win.
San Mateo took the first lead of the game after Luda Gumataotao and Gabrielle Perez reached base on back-to-back singles. Hailey Meisenbac followed with an RBI double and freshman third baseman Isabella Crowne added a two-run single to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead. Perez and Crowne each finished with two hits.
San Mateo added its only other run in the fourth inning on an infield ground-out RBI by Mariah Norris that scored sophomore shortstop Leila Velasquez.
John M. Sherrard (3C2A)
