CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Cal State San Marcos' 2026 softball season ended in the NCAA semifinals with a 4-3 loss to McKendree.
 
CSUSM seized the early lead with two runs in the first inning on an RBI double by Czar Fleischman and a run-scoring single by Sarah Bull. McKendree answered with four runs in the bottom of the second, and it would never yield the lead.
 
Cal State San Marcos would have its chances, as it put multiple runners on in each of the next four innings. In the fourth, the first two runners singled, before a sac bunt and a sac fly by Jillian Albayati cut the deficit to one (4-3).
 
The Cougars would load the bases in the sixth but could not get the elusive two-out hit to tie the game.
 
This was the furthest CSUSM had ever advanced NCAA Tournament. It set a program record with 57 wins (57-12), as it won the regional for the second time in four seasons. CCAA Player of the Year Jillian Albayati finished the season with the CCAA record for batting average (.517) and RBI (80).
 
McKendree will advance to the championship, facing Saint Leo in a best-of-three series for the national title. The series will begin on Tuesday, June 2.