CSM opens State Championships with 8-0 win over Palomar

Story/photo courtesy 3C2A

SARATOGA, CA — Megan Barstad hit a two-run blast and the College of San Mateo Bulldogs rolled to an 8-0 six-inning win over Palomar College to open the 2024 3C2A Softball State Championship.

The North No. 2 seed Bulldogs used 12 hits and three Comets' errors to earn the win.

Barstad went 2-3 with a walk and drove in three runs. She put a stamp on the game in the fourth when she launched a ball off the left-field foul pole to firmly plant the momentum with the Bulldogs. She started the scoring in the first with a single to bring in Ariana Williams.

Izzy Cowne finished with three hits, and one run and singled in a run in the first and sixth innings. Emma Kinder, Vanessa Lang, and Luda Gumataotao each added two hits. Lang scored three times in the win.

Miscues by Palomar, the South No. 4 seed, proved costly. Four of San Mateo's runs were unearned, including the final, deciding run.

Kennedie Magorian went the distance and struck out five for the Bulldogs to improve to 17-3.

Palomar's best chance to get back in the game came in the sixth inning when they loaded the bases with no outs. But the Comets hit into a pitcher-catcher-first base double play, and Magorian struck out the next batter to end the threat.

Josephine Heuberger led Palomar with 3-3 at the plate with a double. Faith Steffany finished 2-2.

Fuilianna "GiGi" Calvel took the loss to move to 27-5

The Bulldogs will face the winner of South No. 1 seed Fullerton and North No. 4 seed Sierra tomorrow at 11 a.m. at West Valley College. The Comets will play the loser of that matchup tomorrow at 11 a.m. at San Jose City College.