Game 1 box | Game 2 box

ROHNERT PARK Calif. – Though the Cal State East Bay softball team finally got its offense going against Sonoma State on Saturday, but could not pick up a win, as the Seawolves completed the series sweep with a 5-3 victory in game one and a 5-1 win in game two. The Pioneers (3-5, 0-4 CCAA) had 13 hits on the day but also left 12 on base in the doubleheader sweep.

In contrast to Friday's 10-inning shutout, Cal State East Bay got on the board right away in game one. Mishka Hamor reached on an infield single with one out before Nikki Freiberg and Taylor Neumann followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases for Dani Foster, who singled to right to bring in Hamor. A misplay by the right fielder advanced Foster to third and brought in both Freiberg and Neumann to put the Pioneers up 3-0.

Pitching with a 3-0 lead, East Bay starter Talia Ferrari shut out Sonoma State for the first three innings, allowing just one hit during that span. On the other side of the ball, Julianne Martinez recovered from the rocky first inning to shutdown the Pioneer offense over the final six innings.

The Seawolves returned the favor in the fourth inning, scoring three runs on three hits and an error and knocking Ferrari out of the game in favor of Kelly Lowe. After giving up one hit, Lowe got a pop up and a strikeout to end the threat with the game tied 3-3.

In the fourth, Lowe struggled to find the strike zone, walking the first two batters before giving up a two-RBI double with two outs to put the Seawolves up 5-3 through five innings. Martinez closed out the game with two more shutout innings to pick up her third win of the season. Lowe took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits in 2.2 innings of work.

Freiberg, Hamor and Neumann led the Pioneers at the plate in game one, each recording at least two hits and scoring a run apiece, but the rest of the lineup was ineffective with runners on base, stranding 10 on the basepaths.

In game two, both teams were held scoreless through the first three innings. For the second consecutive day, starters Kelly Lowe and Samantha Lipperd appeared set for another pitcher's duel, each allowing just one hit in the opening three innings.

Sonoma State was the first to break through, using the long ball to take a 4-0 lead. After an error and a single put two on with one out for the Seawolves, Rochelle Vanyi put a Lowe pitch over the fence in right for a three-run homer, knocking Lowe out of the game. With Catherine Schorn on to pitch, Kayla Ledford hit a solo shot down the left field line to give Sonoma State back-to-back homers and a 4-0 lead. Schorn got out of the inning, but the damage was done.

Pitching with a 4-0 advantage, Lipperd tossed another inning of shutout ball before giving way to Ciara Becerril who allowed one run but was effective in holding the Pioneers to maintain the lead and hand SSU the win. The one run came in the sixth, when Kassandra Winger hit her first homer of the year, a solo shot to left to put East Bay on the board.

The run was too little, too late, however, as the Seawolves tacked on one more run in the sixth. With two outs and a runner on third, Pioneer pitcher Heidi McAllister's third strike wild pitch put the batter on first and allowed Vanyi to come around to put the Seawolves up 5-1 before East Bay got out of the inning.

The Pioneers return to action next week, when they travel to Chico State for their second CCAA series of the season. Cal State East Bay and Chico are set for a pair of doubleheaders on Feb. 18 and 19.