First there were 265 teams, then 64, then 16.
Now, the CSU San Marcos Cougars are just one of eight NCAA Division II softball teams still standing. They head to the NCAA Championship Finals, where they'll compete in one of two four-team double-elimination brackets beginning Thursday, May 28 at 10:30 a.m. PT.
Seeded fourth overall, the Cougars open against No. 5 West Texas A&M. A win sends them to face the winner of No. 1 Saint Leo vs. No. 8 St. Thomas Aquinas on May 29 at 9 a.m. PT. A loss drops them into an elimination game against that same matchup's loser on May 30 at 8 a.m. PT.
How the teams got here
The Cougars went 3-1 in regionals, defeating Hawaii Hilo 9-1, Cal State Monterey Bay 14-4, and Cal State Dominguez Hills 4-0 before advancing to the Super Regionals against Biola. There, they took a best-of-three series that included an eleven-inning thriller to close it out.
On the season, CSU San Marcos ranks seventh in Division II in batting average (.348), seventh in ERA (2.03), and sixth in fielding percentage (.976). Leading the offense is Jillian Albayati, whose .528 average is the best in all of Division II. In the circle, Daleah Cardenas and Jordan Hill rank 14th and 19th nationally in ERA at 1.64 and 1.74, respectively.
West Texas A&M also went 3-0 in regionals, rolling past CSU Pueblo 9-0, Angelo State 9-6, and Texas A&M-Kingsville 13-5 before defeating Oklahoma Christian in the Super Regionals to punch their ticket to the finals.
The Lady Buffs lead all of Division II in batting average (.386) and home runs. Their 114 are nearly 50 percent more than any other team in the country (the next closest has 78). Their offense is paced by Jordyn De Los Santos, whose .510 average ranks third in D2. Defensively, they rank 18th in fielding (.973) but 46th in ERA (2.98).
Cougars vs. Lady Buffs
Thursday's matchup pits two elite offenses against each other, but built in very different ways. West Texas A&M is a power-hitting juggernaut. Their 114 home runs aren't just a Division II best, they're in a category of their own. The Lady Buffs also lead the country in batting average, making them arguably the most dangerous lineup in college softball at any level.
But the Cougars may have the edge where it counts most in a short series: pitching and defense. CSU San Marcos's staff ERA of 2.03 is nearly a full run better than West Texas A&M's 2.98, and Cardenas and Hill give the Cougars two proven arms capable of keeping a powerful lineup in check. If the Cougars can limit the Lady Buffs' long ball, their balanced, well-rounded game could be the formula to secure the victory.
Top Photo: credit: Greg Siller / CSU San Marcos Athletics
