Cal State San Marcos Softball Soars to No. 2 Ranking

Seniors Jordan Hill and Jillian Albayati lead the Cougars' dominant season

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:05pm

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The Cal State San Marcos softball team has had a standout season, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation in NCAA Division II. Led by senior pitcher Jordan Hill and senior infielder Jillian Albayati, the Cougars have posted a 24-4 overall record, including a 20-game win streak that was snapped in mid-March. Despite the early-season success, the team remains focused on taking it one game at a time.

Why it matters

The Cougars' impressive run highlights the strength of the Cal State San Marcos softball program, which has emerged as a national powerhouse. The team's success is a source of pride for the university and the local community, and their continued performance could lead to greater recognition and opportunities for the players.

The details

Senior pitcher Jordan Hill, ranked second in the nation with a 0.62 ERA, and senior infielder Jillian Albayati, batting .548 and ranked sixth nationally, have been key to the Cougars' success. The team also features strong contributions from other pitchers, such as Madison Cabrera and Hailey Shiflett, as well as offensive standouts like Jordan Elias, Rae D'Amato, and Angelina Rodriguez.

  • The Cougars' 20-game win streak stretched from late January through mid-March.
  • The win streak ended on March 13 with a 1-0 loss at Chico State.
  • The team bounced back the following day with a 12-2 win over San Francisco State.

The players

Jordan Hill

A senior right-handed pitcher for the Cal State San Marcos softball team, ranked second in the nation in NCAA Division II with a 0.62 ERA.

Jillian Albayati

A senior infielder for the Cal State San Marcos softball team, batting .548 and ranked sixth nationally in NCAA Division II.

A.J. Robinson

The head coach of the Cal State San Marcos softball team, in his second year with the program.

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What they’re saying

“We had a really good fall, played some Division I teams, and kind of whooped on them. We're a young team, so that really surprised me. Last year we were older, and I'd say we were performing even better than we did in the fall.”

— Jillian Albayati, Senior Infielder

“When I found out the rest of my pitching staff was all freshmen, that was definitely a little nerve-wracking. But once we got into practice, and during those fall games and the first couple in the spring, you could tell the freshmen were stepping up. Even though they don't have as much experience, they're still able to get the job done, which is really nice.”

— Jordan Hill, Senior Pitcher

“The best thing about it is, you know, I'm a little superstitious, so I can finally go and get my haircut. I don't think they really understood that I was superstitious when I told them, so I kind of had to explain it. But it wasn't really stressful. I think we know—you play 50-plus games in a season, you're not going to beat everyone. We just have to learn and self-reflect from a couple of losses.”

— A.J. Robinson, Head Coach

What’s next

The Cougars will look to continue their strong play as they face a four-game series at Cal State Monterey Bay next.

The takeaway

The Cal State San Marcos softball team's impressive run to the No. 2 national ranking showcases the program's depth and resilience, with contributions from both veteran leaders and talented newcomers. Their focus on taking it one game at a time has allowed them to maintain their success despite the high expectations.