Bulldogs wrap up impressive season at state championships

WALNUT – The quest for a second straight state title came up just short for College of San Mateo. Facing elimination, the Bulldogs couldn't hold an early lead and suffered a 12-4 loss in six innings against Cypress College on Saturday at the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) State Championships.

CSM had already beaten Cypress once at the state tournament, picking up a 3-0 victory in the opener on Thursday. On Saturday, the Bulldogs jumped on Chargers' starter Emily Rush early, rallying for three runs in the top of the first inning to take the lead. Hailey Meisenbach smacked an RBI-double and Isabella Cowne drove in two runs with a single to get the Bulldogs off to a good start.

But Rush settled down and kept San Mateo relatively quiet for the remainder of the contest while Cypress erupted for four runs in the second and five more in the third to put the game out of reach.

Cowne (2 for 3, 2 RBI), Gabrielle Perez (2 for 3, 1 run), and Vanessa Lang (2 for 3) all had two hits each to lead CSM at the plate.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs can look back at another impressive season that culminated in their ninth consecutive trip to the state championships.

CSM closed 2023 with a 39-9 overall record and captured a Coast Conference championship for the ninth time over the past 10 seasons.

Sophomore Lafulafu Malepeai closed out a stellar Bulldog career and racked up the postseason honors this spring. She was recently named the California Player of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). She also earned first-team NFCA All-American honors, all-state accolades, and was selected the Coast Conference Player of the Year.