SAN MARCOS, Calif. – The Sonoma State softball team opened CCAA play on Friday with a split against the 4^th ranked team in country, Cal State San Marcos.  The Seawolves took the second game, overcoming a 7-run deficit in the final two innings to earn the 13-12 win after dropping the opener 3-2 in extra innings. 
 
The first game was a pitchers' duel from the start with Bailee Reed retiring the first seven batters she faced and getting through the first three innings scoreless.  Skylar Linnane got the scoring started in the top of the 4^th with a solo homerun to right centerfield so her first of the season.  The Cougars rallied in the bottom of the 4^th to score a pair and take a 2-1 advantage. 
 
The game stayed 2-1 into the 7^th with Charlie Johnson hurling two straight scoreless innings for SSU.  In the top of the 7^th with the Seawolves down to their final out Anna Zoia-Buescher delivered a clutch single and advanced to second on an error.  Rylee Nishimoto then came through with a single of her own up the middle to score Zoia-Buescher from second to knot the game at 2-2.  Johnson followed with a scoreless 7^th and the game moved to extra innings.  In the bottom of the 8^th, Cal State San Marcus used a single, walk and a double to earn the walk-off victory. 
 
The nightcap was an instant classic with the Seawolves pulling off an epic comeback.  After falling behind 8-1 through four innings the offense got going in the top of the 5^th.  Zoia-Buescher led off with a single and stole second.  Nishimoto followed with a single of her own and then stole second to put two runners in scoring position.  Giana Hays then walked to load the bases before Jasmine Moreno and Taylor Rapp followed with back-to-back RBI singles.  Lauren Mirtoni then added another run with a RBI groundout to make it 8-4. 
 
The Cougars answered right back with three runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to push the lead back to seven.  The game then turned in the 6^th as the Seawolves put together another huge rally.  Zoia-Buescher got things started again with a single and a steal before Nishimoto and Hays each drew walks to load the bases.  Moreno then followed with a walk and Rapp plated another on an error by the third baseman to make it 11-6.  Linnane then delivered the biggest hit of the day, driving the pitch just inside the leftfield foul pole for a grand slam and pull SSU within one. 
 
Johnson got out of jam in the bottom of the 6^th to send the game to final inning trailing by one.  Zoia-Buescher was once again leading off and for the third straight inning delivered a single.  Nishimoto then blooped one into left and Hays followed with a bunt single.  The throw to first went wild and Zoia-Buescher came in to score and tie the game at 11-11.  Moreno followed by ripping a single into the left to give Sonoma State their first lead of the game.  Two batters later Rapp drove in the final run on a groundout and the Seawolves were three outs away from the win. 
 
The bottom of the 7^th opened with a fantastic diving catch by Carissa Marquez on a line drive up the middle and a groundout to put the Cougars down to their final out.  CSUSM was not done however with three straight hits to make it 13-12 and have the tying run on second.  Johnson then got the final out, forcing a groundball to third to end the contest. 
 
The Seawolves finished with a season high 13 runs and 13 hits.  Zoia-Buescher had five hits, four runs and three steals in the doubleheader.  Linnane finishes with a pair of homeruns and five RBIs while Moreno added four hits and three RBIs.  Rapp had three RBIs in the second game and threw out two baserunners in the first.  Johnson earned her third of the season with six innings of relief in the second game. 
 
These two teams will square off again tomorrow for a doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for 10:30 am.  Live stream is available on the CCAA Network and live stats through the link at www.sonomaseawolves.com.