Cosumnes River Opens State Championships with 7-3 Win
Bakersfield, Calif. – The Cosumnes River College Hawks earned a five-run, come-from-behind 7-3 win over San Diego Mesa College to begin the 2026 3C2A State Championships at Bakersfield College on Thursday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 3-2 heading into the seventh inning, the Hawks erupted for a five-run top of the seventh inning, spearheaded by a pair of two-RBI singles from Emma Misasi and Emily Azemar – both players finished the game 3-for-4 at the plate. Misasi's knock gave the Hawks a 5-3 lead, then Azemar added insurance.
Cosumnes River got the scoring going early in the first inning. A single and a walk from Xochitl Atayde and Nina Najafizadeh set the table for Ashley Garcia who drove in the game's first run. Misasi followed with a two-out triple to right, bringing home Najafizadeh.
San Diego Mesa's starting pitcher Olivia Anderson settled in and shut the Hawks down from the second through sixth innings, leaving an opportunity for the offense to get rolling.
Itzel Soto, an all-state south selection, ripped a two-run homer to dead center in the third inning, giving the Olympians their first hit and runs of the game, evening the score at two at that point.
An inning later, Anderson helped her own cause, singling through the middle to give SD Mesa the lead.
STAND OUT PERFORMERS
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Kaylena Ogle pitched a complete game, allowing two earned runs, striking out three, en route to win number 14.
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Misasi and Azemar both tallied three hits, combining for six of the team's 11.
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Atayde, despite not picking up a hit, reached base twice and scored a pair of runs.
UP NEXT
Cosumnes River moves on to the winner's bracket to face the winner of College of San Mateo and Saddleback at 11 a.m. tomorrow. San Diego Mesa will face the loser of that same game in the loser's bracket at 11 a.m. tomorrow at Cal State Bakersfield.
Courtesy of Joe Perrino, 3CFCA SID
