SAN MARCOS (Feb. 17, 2017) — Junior Jessica Brown took matters into her own hands — make that bat — with a grand slam and a two-run home run in CSUSB's 6-4 victory over host Cal State San Marcos in the CCAA opener for both squads Friday afternoon.
 
The Coyotes (6-4, 1-1 CCAA), who dropped the opener 3-1, continue the series Saturday, with first pitch set for 12 p.m. (weather permitting).
 
Game 1: CSU San Marcos 3, Coyotes 1
Kaylee Gemmell gave the Coyotes a 1-0 lead in the third when she reached base on a bases-loaded walk. However, the Coyotes gathered just two more hits ove the final four innings in the loss.
 
Morgan Ratliff led CSUSB offensively, going 3-for-3 with a double. Gemmell and Brooke Thomas each had a single to account for CSUSB's five hits.
 
Senior LHP Cassandra Williams (4-4) was strong in her six innings of work. She struck out six with just one walk. Two of the Cougars' three runs were earned.
 
Game 2: Coyotes 6, CSU San Marcos 4
The Coyotes wasted little time making an impact. Jessica Angulo (error), Ratliff (single) and Caitlyn Olan (hit by pitch) loaded the bases with one out in the first to set up Brown's blast.
 
Brown came through with a blast to center that cleared the bases and a 4-0.
 
CSUSM answered with a run in the first and fourth, before the Coyotes padded the lead in the seventh, thanks to Brown.
 
Olan reached on a one-out hit by pitch, setting up Brown, who came through with a blast to left and a 6-2 lead. She now has five homers in 10 games.
 
The Cougars put a scare in the seventh, scoring two runs without an out. But sophomore RHP Amanda Ramirez forced the Cougars into a pair of ground outs and a fly out for the victory.
 
Ramirez improved to 1-1 with a five-hitter. She did not issue a walk and had three strikeouts.
 
Ratliff joined Brown with two hits. Briana Quintana  singled in the first.