[Box score]

SAN MARCOS, Calif. - Cal State San Marcos jumped on all-region pitcher Alli Kimball with two runs before she could get an out, and Jayline Sloss would allow only one run over five innings to lift the Cougars to a 9-1 win over Western Washington in the first game of the NCAA West Super Regional. (May 15)
 
The seniors at the top of the Cougars' lineup and in the pitching circle helped spark the victory and bring CSUSM within one win of going to the NCAA National Championships for the second time in three years.
 
After Madison Waymire led off the game with a single, Paige Donnelly and Jillian Albayati had back-to-back doubles to put Cal State San Marcos up 2-0.
 
That would be all Sloss (19-9) would need on this day. The senior right-hander allowed seven hits and one run. She walked two and struck out five. Sloss allowed only two runners to advance past second base.
 
While Sloss was holding the Vikings to only one run, the Cougars continued to score until they run-ruled WWU after six innings. Czar Fleischman doubled in two runs in the fourth before Waymire capped off the inning by bringing in Fleischman to extend the lead to 5-1.
 
Mackenzie Kestler added an RBI in the fifth to make it 6-1, and Gianna Lombardi had a run-scoring single in the sixth to extend the lead to 7-1. Lombardi closed out the game in the sixth by singling off the pitcher's foot with the bases loaded. The ball kicked off the pitcher's heel into right field, allowing two runs to score and giving the Cougars an eight-run win.
 
Six Cougars registered multi-hit games. Kestler finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI. Fleischman was 2-for-2 with a walk, two RBI, and a stolen base. Both of Albayati's hits went for doubles, and she added two RBI in the first-inning rally. Lombardi, Waymire, and Donnelly all had two hits.
 
Maleah Andrews and Kanilehua Pitoy each had two hits at the top of the lineup for Western Washington. CSUSM outhit WWU 14-7.
 
The Super Regional will be decided on Friday, May 16. Cal State San Marcos needs one win to clinch the regional championship and a bid to the NCAA Championships in Chattanooga, Tenn. Western Washington will have to win twice. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. Visit the Tournament Central page for live stats, live broadcasts through FloCollege, schedules, and more.