LOLETA, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino softball team clinched a berth in the California Collegiate Athletic Association Tournament with a pair of victories over Cal Poly Humboldt Friday afternoon at the Bear River Sports Complex.

Cal State San Bernardino prevailed 5-1 in game one, before defeating the Otters 6-2 in game two.

With the victories, the Coyotes improve to 27-18 overall and 19-13 in the CCAA.
 

Game 1 - Cal State San Bernardino 5, Cal Poly Humboldt 1

The contest remained scoreless until the top of the fifth, when junior Diggy Olson (Riverside, Calif.) scored on a stolen base. After Olson stole second, the catcher's throw went into center field, allowing Olson to come all the way around to score.

Later in the same inning, Emilie Lapeña (Buena Park, Calif.) ran CSUSB's lead to two with an RBI single to center.

Cal State San Bernardino notched three key insurance runs in the top of the seventh to put the contest out of reach. Senior Shannon Galliano (San Mateo, Calif.) and junior Tereise Tosi (Garden Grove, Calif.) each recorded RBI singles in the inning, before Tosi touched home on a wild pitch.

The Lumberjacks posted one run in the bottom of the seventh, but their comeback bid fell short as the Yotes claimed a 5-1 victory.

Galliano and Tosi led the way for CSUSB with two hits and one RBI each. Galliano and Olson each scored a pair of runs, combining for four of San Bernardino's five runs.

Senior Natalie Carlos (Garden Grove, Calif.) threw a complete game for Cal State San Bernardino, allowing just one earned run on nine hits with a strikeout to earn her ninth victory of the season.
 

Game 2 - Cal State San Bernardino 6, Cal Poly Humboldt 2

Junior Bri Goris (Chino, Calif.) broke the ice right away for the Coyotes, plating Lapeña on a sacrifice fly to right field in the top of the first. Later in the frame, sophomore Mia Escujuri (Chino Hills, Calif.) extended the lead to two with a run-scoring double.

Humboldt got one back on a solo homer in the bottom of the third, but CSUSB broke the game open with a four-spot in the top of the fourth. Freshman Isabella Venegas () delivered the biggest hit of the inning when she belted a three-run homer over the left field fence to put the Yotes up 5-1. Galliano also delivered an RBI single in the inning.

The Lumberjacks scored once in the bottom of the sixth, and loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but could not bring home the tying run.

Lapeña and Escujuri led CSUSB offensively in the game two win, each recording a pair of hits.

Senior Samantha Vargas (Grand Terrace, Calif.) was the winning pitcher for the Coyotes, allowing just one earned run over 6.1 innings pitched. She allowed only six hits while striking out five.

The Yotes and Lumberjacks will conclude their regular season on Saturday with a doubleheader at the Bear River Sports Complex. First pitch in game one of the doubleheader is slated for 11 a.m.

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