CSM softball opens Super Regional with 8-2 win

"That’s a game-day routine,” Kafoa said. "I just do my dance.”

She does it to keep her team and herself loose. Imagine how much more loose the CSM dugout was after Kafoa blasted a first-inning home run that fueled an 8-2 win over College of Sequoias.

The Bulldogs were in synch in all three phases of the game: pitching, defense and hitting. Pitcher Michele Pilster picked up another win in the circle, pitching a complete game and scattering six hits in the process. The defense made most of the plays behind Pilster — save for a seventh-inning error with the game all but decided, while the offense banged out nine hits, including a pair of homers and a double.

As well as everything looked, CSM coach Nicole Borg, ever the perfectionist, knows her team can play even better.

"Obviously I’m happy with the win,” Borg said. "We played OK. I don’t think we played our best. At this point of the season, you have to play your best.”

If the Bulldogs have that much room to improve, a trip to the state final four could be in order. They looked good Friday and Kafoa got them off to a quick start. With two down in the bottom of the first, Kafoa laced a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left-center field to give the Bulldogs a quick 1-0 lead.

CSM doubled its lead in the bottom of the third on a Mikayla Conlin solo shot to right field for a 2-0 CSM advantage.

The Giants cut the lead in half with a run in the top of the fourth as they put together three hits in the inning, but the Bulldogs came right back with two runs in the bottom of the frame. Backup catcher Kristin Petrini came off the bench to drive in a run with a groundout to second and Selina Rodriguez followed with a RBI single to center.

While Petrini isn’t thrilled to be coming off the bench, she has bought into the team-first mentality.

"That’s kind of my job: to drive in a run (in that spot). Anything to drive in a run,” Petrini said. "[Coming off the bench] is something I’ve had to adjust to. But everyone (on this team) plays a part. Anyone can get thrown in at any time.”

Borg loves Petrini’s passion for the game and her role on the team.

"You tell her what to do and her response is, ‘OK coach,’” Borg said. "She could have one opportunity (in a game) and when she gets the opportunity, she really capitalizes.”

The Bulldogs all but put the game out of reach with a three-run fifth. Kafoa led off the winning with a walk and Conlin reached on an error. Lindsay Handy just missed a three-run bolt as her drive to the left-center field gap slammed high off the fence. She had to settle for an RBI double. Jenn Davidson followed with a bloop single to shallow right to drive in Conlin and Stewart drove in the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right.

Kafoa capped the scoring for CSM in the sixth with a RBI single to left to drive in Rodriguez, who had reached on an error.

"We had a few timely hits. Vika’s two hits were really key,” Borg said. "She did the work (in the offseason). She wants to be good.”

CSM will now face the winner of Ohlone-Sierra at 2 p.m. Saturday, with an elimination game between Sequoias and the late-game loser preceding the CSM game. The championship game is Sunday at noon, with a second game slated if necessary.