CSUSM's Jillian Albayati plays softball, baseball game same day - ESPN

People figured the Cal State San Marcos baseball and softball coaches were simply kidding around when they recently started discussing the idea of Jillian Albayati playing for both of them.

Oh no, Jose Garcia and Stef Ewing were completely serious. So when the short-handed Cougars baseball team needed a pitcher this past weekend, everybody knew Albayati could handle the job.

She's a reliable right-handed pitcher in baseball and plays third base for softball.

«We've got an arm, and we've got a legit arm,» Ewing shared by phone Monday night of the conversations and confidence they had in Albayati.

Albayati became just the second player in collegiate history and first in Division II to appear in formal baseball and softball games the same day when she pitched the final inning in the opener of a doubleheader against Sonoma State on Sunday.

«We're thrilled by so much of it,» Ewing said. «It's a great story and there really is an opportunity for Jill to go again for them with the health of the pitching staff.»

Fortunately with the school's baseball and softball fields only about a football field apart, Albayati was able to play softball for the Cougars in the morning before she switched gears — and gear — for some baseball next door. Cal State San Marcos posted side-by-side photos of her on social media from both games.

History made.<a href=«https://twitter.com/CSUSMsoftball?ref_src=» https:>@CSUSMsoftball

's Jillian Albayati just became the first woman to ever play for <a href=«https://twitter.com/CSUSMBaseball?ref_src=» https:>@CSUSMBaseball.

In doing so, she became the first <a href=«https://twitter.com/NCAADII?ref_src=» https:>@NCAADII student-athlete to play in a softball and baseball game on the same day.<a