Saturday marked the first ever games played on the brand-new CSUSM Softball Field, and the Cougars rose to the occasion with an opening day sweep of the University of Redlands. 

Alyssa Dronenburg's two home runs powered CSUSM to a 6-1 victory in game one, and game two was won by an Erica Coelho single after the Cougars sent it to extras with a two-run seventh inning rally.

CSUSM and pitcher Brenna Sandberg improve to 2-0 on the season, while Redlands falls to 1-3.

The largest crowd in CSUSM softball history cheered on the team, which for the first time had the opportunity to play a true "home game."  In game one, Redlands struck first with a run in the top of the first, but Dronenburg responded with the field's first-ever home run, a shot down the left field line to make it 2-1.

After the Cougars added two runs in the second, they'd make it 6-1 in the third.  Dronenburg once again came up after Lauren Nelson extended the inning with a single, and crushed a no-doubter deep over the fence in right-center. 

That would be more than enough for Sandberg, who cruised to the win.  She allowed just the one run on three hits, and the game was done in a brisk hour and fifteen minutes.

Game two would provide more drama, but have an equally happy ending.  Sandberg made the start again, but this time Redlands jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, and pushed it to 3-0 at the end of five.

The first signs of life from the Cougar offense came in the bottom of the sixth, when the team was able to rally for a run courtesy of a Nelson single.

Down 3-1 in the final frame, it looked as if opening day was destined to be a split - but the resilient Cougars refused to let that happen. 

Ashley Estepa walked to lead off the inning, and after a Shanti Poston single and a hard-hit out to center, a potential game-ending double play ball was booted to load the bases.  Leadoff hitter Elizabeth Bush somehow bled out a walk to close the gap to 3-2, and Ciera Ashman delivered a huge sac fly to left that allowed Poston to tie the game up 3-3.

With the international tiebreaker in effect (teams start with a runner on second in extra innings), Chanel Rose stepped to the mound for the Cougars, getting two big outs before giving way to Sandberg once again with the bases loaded.  Sandberg got the job done, inducing an easy pop-out to short to keep the contest tied.

In the bottom of the frame, that tie would be broken.  With Lauren Nelson on second, Coelho drove a clean single.  The throw home was off-line, and Nelson slid home with the game-ending run, much to the delight of the large crowd still remaining.

The dramatic finish might take some focus away from what may have been the two best defensive games CSUSM softball has played.  The entire infield was flawless, and Estepa looked phenomenal in her first-ever start at third base.  In the outfield, Bush ran down everything in center, and Nelson made a great catch in right to end the first game. 

All-in-all, it was a great day for both the University and the team!  CSUSM will be back at home next Friday when they take on Southern Oregon in a double-header starting at 1:00 PM.