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Image of Nia Mapa
April 2, 2026

Mapa blasts No. 1 CSM to 12-4 mercy win over No. 3 West Valley; win streak now 48

Box Score
SAN MATEO -- Nia Mapa blasted a 2-run homer to give College of San Mateo a 12-4 comeback mercy rule softball victory in 5 innings over rival West Valley College on Thursday (April 2) and all but wrap-up another Coast Conference title – also extending a phenomenal year-long win streak to 48 games.

It was a year ago, on April 3, that CSM last suffered a defeat – and to West Valley – 4-3 in eight innings.

West Valley (28-3, 7-2 Coast Conference) is ranked No. 2 in Northern California and No. 3 in the state -- behind leading CSM (32-0, 9-0). And the Vikings provided an early threat in Thursday's game at CSM. West Valley took a 4-2 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning before the state-leading Bulldogs offense took charge in the bottom of the frame.

Love Cabanas homered to make it 4-3. Selena Gonzales tied it, coming home on a wild pitch, with Peyton Huber advancing to third. Katie Johnson walked, with the bases loaded, to bring home Huber with the go-ahead (and winning) run.

Mapa was then hit by a pitch to score Lilyana Williams from third and it was 6-4 after four innings.

The Lady Bulldogs were determined to end it in the fifth, with the 8-run rule margin, taking advantage of five Vikings errors. Singles by pinch hitter Kaylee Poulos and by Selena Gonzales started things.

Huber reached first on an error, which brought home Poulos, and then stole second. A catcher error allowed both Gonzales and Huber to score. Alyssa Green singled and Janelle Ramirez came in to pinch run. Ramirez responded by stealing second and advancing to third on a single by Ale Phillips – then stealing home for a run (as Phillips stole second).

Mapa's 2-run blast, also bringing home Phillips,  ended it.

San Mateo had three homers in the game. Williams started the barrage in the third inning. CSM is slugging .720 and has 64 home runs to lead the state – 22 more than Antelope Valley in the second position. CSM also leads in extra base hits, with 129. Mapa paces Northern California with 14 homers, just ahead of Johnson, with 12.

Lola Sierra pitched the first four innings to remain unbeaten and claim her NorCal leading 18th victory (No. 2 in the state). Mapa had a "perfect" fifth inning in relief. Mapa, with a 1.37 ERA, and Sierra (1.52) rank No. 3 & 5 in state ERA.

CSM has a 2-game lead over West Valley, with five league games remaining, and has swept the home-and-home series with the Vikings. Hartnell (26-8, 6-3) is three games back, with one game with the visiting Bulldogs (on Tuesday, April 7).
 
--Fred Baer, CSM Athletic Communications