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ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – Today could have marked the end of the Sonoma State softball program. Trailing 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning in an elimination game, the No. 4-seeded Seawolves rallied for three runs in their only scoring opportunity of the day to earn a 3-1 win over No. 5 seed Cal State San Bernardino.
 
Sonoma State could not get the bats going in the first five innings as CSUSB’s pitcher Brooke Blackmon held them to three scattered singles.
 
Cal State San Bernardino broke through for the first run in the top of the fourth as three singles loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly by Alex Hooper brought in the first run.
 
Sonoma State’s pitcher Charlie Johnson kept it at a one-run game, giving her team the chance at a comeback. She got in a little trouble in the top of the sixth as the first two batters singled. However, Johnson immediately got out of it as she coaxed a third-to-first double play on the first pitch.
 
That brought the momentum into the Seawolves' dugout. Lauren Mirtoni had a one-out single before Jasmine Moreno reached on a walk. Iris Bejarano singled up the middle to drive in Mirtoni as the game-tying run. She and Moreno would advance to second and third on the throw.
 
A sacrifice fly by Kaiya Dickens gave SSU its first lead of the game (2-1), and Carissa Marquez extended the lead to 3-1 with a two-out single.
 
CSUSB would put one on in the top of the seventh, but Johnson induced a groundball on the next batter to lock up her 21st win. She pitched all seven innings, allowing six hits and one run. She did not walk or strikeout a batter. CSUSB’s Brooke Blackmon allowed six hits and three runs (one earned). She struck out five and walked one.
 
In addition to the third-to-first double play, Sonoma State also had a critical momentum play in the top of the fifth when Olivia Gabriel and Dickens had a relay throw from the right field corner to cut a runner down at third base for the first out of the inning.  
 
This was a critical win for Sonoma State in the CCAA Tournament and the NCAA Regional Rankings. Sonoma State came into the game ranked No. 8, and Cal State Dominguez Hills was at No. 9. The Toros lost earlier in the day to Cal State San Marcos. 
 
Sonoma State will advance to the double-elimination portion of the CCAA Softball Tournament presented by FloCollege. It will face the No. 1 seed Cal State East Bay at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 1. For more information and updates, visit the CCAA Softball Tournament page.