Bulldogs defeat American River to return to State Championships for ninth straight season

SAN MATEO – College of San Mateo is headed back to a very familiar place.

For the ninth season in a row, the Bulldogs have punched their ticket for the California Community College Athletic Association (3C2A) State Championships. But it wasn't easy.

After taking the opening game of the Super Regionals by a final score of 4-2 on Friday against No. 9 American River College, No. 2 CSM would need a deciding third game after dropping Game 2, 5-4. But the Bulldogs came through in the series finale, led by a 4-for-4 day at plate with 4 RBI by Luda Gunataotao, beating the Beavers decisively 9-3 to continue their quest for back-to-back state titles.

On Friday, CSM set the tone early, jumping on American River starting pitcher Bree Romero for three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Gabrielle Perez smacked an RBI-double for the biggest hit of the frame while Hailey Meisenbach came through with a run-scoring single and Jessica Agosti brought in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Lia Evans (4 innings) and Siona Halwani (3 innings) combined for the victory in the circle with Evans earning the win to improve to 10-0 on the season.

San Mateo had a chance to close out the series on Saturday but a two-run, seventh-inning rally by American River forced Game 3. With the score tied 3-3, ARC put up a pair of runs in the top of the seventh to go back out in front.

In the bottom of the frame, Lafulafu Malepeai smacked her 15th home run of the season, a solo shot with one out, to get the Bulldogs within one run. Meisenbach followed with a single to get the tying run on base but CSM couldn't get the equalizer.

Forced to play a third game to decide the series, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Mariah Norris started the three-run rally with an RBI-single before Gumataotao smashed a two-run double.

ARC (Game 3 designated home team) tied up it with three runs of its own in the bottom of the third before San Mateo went ahead for good in the top of the fifth as Leila Velasquez singled home Meisenbach with the go-ahead run.

Leading 4-3, CSM secured the victory with a five-run outburst in the top of the seventh. After an error allowed one run to score, Norris drove in two with a single and Gumataotao put an exclamation point on the victory with a two-run double.

Norris (2 for 4, 2 runs) had 3 RBI while Velasquez (2 for 4) drove in two runs to join in on Gumataotao's big game offensively.

Tori Cortez was credited with the win in the circle, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings with just one hit.

CSM will take a 37-7 overall record into the State Championships set for May 18-21 at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut. The Bulldogs are the North's No. 2 seed and will open up the tournament against South No. 3-seed Cypress College (38-6) on Thursday at 8 p.m. | STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKET

The winner will take on either South No. 1 Palomar College (40-1) or North No. 4 Folsom Lake College (21-24) on Friday at 2 p.m. Four wins are needed by the Bulldogs to repeat as state champions and capture the program's second overall state title.