The article below originally appeared in the San Mateo Daily Journal and is being reprinted with permission.

Julio Lara/Daily Journal. Callie Pacheco singles to left field for the second of her three hits in Saturday's 8-7 loss to Shasta College.

There was very little “super” in the College of San Mateo softball team’s performance Sunday morning against Shasta College.

Twice, CSM could not protect leads in their game and suffered their third loss of the season, 8-7 to the Lady Knights.

San Mateo’s defense committed uncharacteristic mental mistakes that allowed Shasta to stay within striking distance throughout the game. It was a big three-run homer off the bat of McKenzie Marshall in the top of the 5th inning that was the big blow. Marshall’s home run came in an inning where the Knights sent 10 batters to the plate, nine of which reached base safely.

CSM jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first on an RBI double by Callie Pacheco, who had a great game at the plate for the Bulldogs, going 3 for 4 in the game.

But the top of the 2nd proved to be a preview of what Shasta would do to the Bulldogs’ defense for the remainder of the contest. The inning started with an error by the CSM second baseman and it was followed by a fielder’s choice. The Bulldogs then committed another error on a throw to first base that set the Knights up with runners on first and third. Shasta used that situation to execute a double steal and score their first run — it was a play they would use a handful of times during the game to great success.

The Knights actually got their first lead of the game in similar, hectic fashion in the top of the 3rd. This time they set themselves up with back-to-back singles to start the frame. Jepsen and her defense simply could not contain Shasta’s aggressiveness on the bases -the Knights would end their half of the inning with a 3-2 lead.

CSM got those runs back and then some in the bottom of the 3rd. This time they came up and strung together five straight hits – the biggest a three-run shot from Danielle Brenner.

The Bulldogs would get two more hits after the home run, which came with no outs. But another story of the morning was their inability to capitalize on their offensive opportunities.

After surrendering the lead with McKenzie’s blast in the fifth, Ashley Rincon came in to relieve Jepsen. But she gave up another pair of runs to the Lady Knights and by the time the disastrous 5th was over the Bulldogs were down 8-5. They would never recover.

CSM tried their best though and had their shot in the bottom of the inning. They made things closer about McKenzie, now pitching for the Lady Knights, hit Trish Malaspina for a run and walked in another.

But CSM would leave the bases loaded.

CSM Baseball

Two games, two shutouts for the CSM baseball team.

Clay Bauer, Devin Bradley and Zach Sanford combined for nine innings of shutout baseball as the Bulldogs improved their record to 2-0 against Cosumnes River College.

CSM scored a pair of runs in back-to-back innings late in the game to put things out of reach.

Jusin Maffei homered for CSM, a solo shot in the bottom of the 1st. It was the first of the year for Maffei.