Bulldogs advance to Super Regionals after sweep of Santa Rosa
SAN MATEO – Defending state champion College of San Mateo moved one step closer to repeating last year's historic accomplishment.
The No. 2-seeded Bulldogs made quick work of No. 15 Santa Rosa Junior College in the opening round of the Northern California Regional Playoffs. CSM cruised to a 7-2 victory on Friday in Game 1 and needed just six innings to close out the series with a 10-2 win on Saturday.
All-State outfielder Lafulafu Malepeai led the Bulldogs' offense, going a combined 4 for 8 with 5 RBI and 3 runs. She smacked her team-leading 14th home run of the season, a three-run shot, in Friday's opening game.
Mariah Norris drove in 4 runs with 4 hits over 7 at bats during the series while All-State outfielder Hailey Meisenbach went 3 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs in the Saturday's victory.
In the circle, Tori Cortez allowed 2 hits and 2 unearned runs in a complete-game effort on Saturday and Lia Evans picked up Friday's win by tossing 2 1/3 innings, giving up a run and 4 hits.
The Bulldogs, winners of nine straight, improved to 35-6 overall this season. CSM heads to next week's Super Regionals where it will host No. 9 American River College (25-16) in another best-of-three-game series. The opener is set for Friday at 2 p.m. with Game 2 on Saturday at noon, and if necessary, a deciding third game to follow at 2 p.m. that day.
Ticket prices for the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) postseason event at CSM are $12 for general admission and $8 for all identified students, faculty, staff, senior citizens age 60 and over, and children under 12 years old. Tickets are available online at the CSM Athletics website. | TICKETS
San Mateo and American River will meet for the second time this season. On Feb. 18, the Bulldogs rallied for six runs over the final three innings of their non-conference game to erase an early 1-0 deficit and beat the Beavers 6-1. ARC earned its spot in the Super Regionals by upsetting No. 7 Butte College, taking the series 2-0.
The Super Regionals winner will advance to the 2023 3C2A State Championships on May 18-21 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.