CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Cal State San Marcos overcame a three-run deficit in the eighth inning and walked it off in the ninth inning to defeat West Texas A&M 5-4 in the first round of the NCAA Championships.
 
The game was tied 1-1 at the end of seven innings as starting pitchers Daleah Cardenas (CSUSM) and Brooke Janning (WTAM) both held the offenses in check.
 
West Texas A&M got its opportunity in the eighth when the first two batters of the inning reached, and a single loaded the bases. The Buffs would take the 2-1 lead on a single before adding two more insurance runs on a base hit by Jordyn De Los Santos.
 
Facing a 4-1 deficit in extras, CSUSM rallied with a one-out walk to Kaila Siu followed by a double from Czar Fleischman to cut WTAM's lead to 4-2. The next batter, Sarah Bull, took a 0-1 pitch down the left field line, off the foul pole, to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Jordan Hill would hold WTAM scoreless in the top of the ninth, allowing CSUSM to rally for the win in its half of the inning.  
 
Jordan Elias singled to lead off on the first pitch of the inning. Marissa Morales then put down a bunt on the first pitch she saw to sacrifice Elias to second. However, on the bunt back to the pitcher, the third baseman crashed down, giving Elias the opening to take third base. Without hesitation, she went for the open base.
 
The WTAM second baseman, who had rotated over to take the throw, tried to cut Elias down at third, but her throw was up the line and sailed into foul ground in left field, allowing Elias to come around all the way from first on a bunt for the game-winning run.
 
Elias and Fleischman each went 2-for-4 to lead Cal State San Marcos. Three student-athletes collected hits for the Buffs.
 
Jordan Hill improved to 19-4 with the win. She pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing just two hits and no runs. Cardenas threw the first 7.1 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs, and four walks. She struck out one. Janning took the loss for WTAM. She went the full game (8.1 innings), giving up 10 hits and five runs (four earned). She struck out six and walked two.
 
CSUSM will advance to the winner's bracket, where it will face the top seed, Saint Leo, on Friday, May 29, at 9 a.m. PST.