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Defending champion CSM sweeps Taft in season-opening doubleheader
January 24, 2026

Defending champion CSM sweeps Taft in season-opening doubleheader

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SAN MATEO – The defending state champion College of San Mateo softball team picked up right where it left off last season. Eight months after capturing the program's second state title in four seasons, the Bulldogs opened its 2026 campaign with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Taft College on Friday afternoon.

CSM took the opening game by a score of 6-2 and got more offensive in a 12-3 Game 2 victory to close the afternoon.

Sophomore Nia Mapa was impressive on both sides of the plate. She earned the victory from the circle in the opener against the Cougars and smashed a pair of home runs from the batter's box in the finale.

Game 1: San Mateo 6, Taft 2
 Mapa put together a solid start, allowing just a hit and two unearned runs in the opening-game start on her way to the win. Gianna Tassio closed out the contest with two scoreless innings.

CSM totaled seven hits with four going for extra bases. Lilyana Williams had the big blow, smashing a three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0. Peyton Huber laced a two-run double in the second and Hannah Ames sealed the victory with a solo home run in the sixth.

Ames (2-for-3, 3 R) and Alexa Elzey (2-for-3, 2 R) both had two hits each.

Game 2: San Mateo 12, Taft 3 (6 inn.)
The finale was close all the way until the fourth inning before the Bulldogs blew the game open. Taft took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, taking advantage of a lead-off error. But that was quickly erased in the bottom of the frame thanks to a two-run home run from Mapa.

CSM held a slim 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth when the Bulldogs put up two runs in the fourth, three in the fifth, and three final runs in the sixth for the mercy-rule win.

Rivas smashed a three-run double in the fifth and Mapa sent everyone home with a three-run blast in the sixth for the walk-off winner.

After a shaky start, Lola Sierra settled down to go the distance for the win. She allowed three runs (two earned) and scattered nine hits while striking out seven.

CSM, now 2-0 overall, is back in action on Friday (Jan. 30) when the Bulldogs host Reedley College in a doubleheader. Game 1 is set for noon followed by Game 2 at 2 p.m.