The 2026 NCAA Softball West regional opened on Thursday at two sites, with Cal State San Marcos and Cal State East Bay each hosting a four-team pod. Each site played its two quarterfinal games, with the winners advancing and the losing teams falling into an elimination game on Friday.
 
#1 Cal State San Marcos 9, #8 Hawaii Hilo 1 [Box score]
Cal State San Marcos opened NCAA postseason play by earning a 9-1, run-rule victory over Hawaii Hilo.
 
The Cougars scored four runs in the first inning, before tacking on a pair of runs in the second and fourth innings. They chased the Vulcans' starter without her getting an out.
 
Zoe Karam went 2-for-2 with a home run, two walks, two RBI, and two runs scored. Rae D'Amato was 2-for-4 with three RBI. She drove in the first runs of the game on a two-run single in the first inning, before adding another run-scoring hit in the second. D'Amoto finished the game by bringing in Hannah Tandy for the eight-run lead in the sixth.
 
Daleah Cardenas pitched a complete game for CSUSM, throwing just 58 pitches in six innings. She allowed four singles and no walks, while striking out two. The only run she allowed came in on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning.

#7 Western Washington 3, #2 Cal State East Bay 2 [Box score]
Defending regional champions, Western Washington, scored three unanswered runs to defeat Cal State East Bay, 3-2, in the first round of the NCAA West Regional.
 
The Pioneers put up two runs in the first inning on a sacrifice fly from Cynthia Carrillo and a bases-clearing triple from Ava Benavides, but unfortunately could not add on.
 
The Vikings got one run back on a Maleah Andrews solo home run in the third. They tied the game on a fielding error in the fifth before taking their first lead of the game on a sac fly by Hailey Rath in the top of the seventh.
 
Both starting pitchers went the distance. WWU's Alanna Wirtala earned the win and improved to 28-11. She allowed nine hits and no walks over seven innings, without a strikeout. CSUEB's Marissa Quintero struck out two over her seven innings of work. She allowed three runs (two earned) along with six hits and two walks.

#5 Cal State Monterey Bay 4, #4 Cal State Dominguez Hills 0 [Box score]
Albeanna Alba homered three batters into the game, and Cal State Monterey Bay never trailed en route to a 4-0 opening-round win over Cal State Dominguez Hills.
 
The Otters managed just four hits in the game, but they fully capitalized on the seven walks they received to earn the postseason victory. After Ellie Escalante walked in the first inning, Alba followed with a home run, which proved to be the only hit allowed by Toros' starter Ashley Ogata. Another walk, Andrea DeJesus, would come into score in the second inning after coming around from first base on a stolen base and an error. Walks would load the bases for CSUMB in the fifth, and it would push across one more run on a single by Malia Martin.
 
Jordan Knutson went the complete game and earned the shutout for Cal State Monterey Bay. She allowed just three hits and one walk over seven innings while striking out two to improve to 13-5.
 
Ogata took the loss, dropping to 16-7. She gave up one hit and five walks, while yielding four runs in three innings of work. Audrey Gallegos would not allow a run over her three innings.