Game 1 box | Game 2 box

HAYWARD, Calif. – Though it trailed early on in both games, the Cal State East Bay softball team came from behind twice to post a pair of wins over Humboldt State on Friday afternoon at Pioneer Softball Field. The Pioneers (10-12, 7-11 CCAA) needed just one big inning in each game, with Kassy Winger's fifth-inning grand slam in game one holding up for a 4-1 victory and a seven-run second inning in game two helping East Bay to their first eight-run rule victory of the season, 11-3, in five innings.

The Pioneer pitchers were superb on Friday, as both game one starter Kelly Lowe and game two hurler Talia Ferrari tossed complete games and allowed three or fewer runs. Lowe improved to 4-4 on the season, allowing just one unearned run on four hits and striking out four in her second complete game of the year. Meanwhile, Ferrari gave up three runs on four hits in five innings of work in game two to move to 3-2 in the 2011 campaign.

Though the Jacks took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly from Nikki Ketteringham in the top of the third, Lowe held them to just the one run through four-and-a-half innings. The Pioneers finally broke through against HSU starter Jessica George in the bottom of the fifth when Ferrari and Jamie Yaller led the inning off with back-to-back singles. With two on and no outs, Breezy Johnson laid down a hard drag bunt for an infield single to load the bases for Winger, who sent George's pitch over the fence in centerfield for her second homer of the season. The grand slam was East Bay's second of the season and put the Pioneers up 4-1 before George got out of the inning.

Lowe finished the game off by facing seven batters over the final two innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one to pick up the win. George finished with three strikeouts and allowing four earned runs on eight hits in six innings of work.

Ferrari got off to a rough start in game two, giving up three runs in the top of the second inning after a scoreless first. The Jacks put together three hits and two walks, with Ferrari walking in a run before Sammi Gilbert had an RBI groundout and Ketteringham singled to drive in a third run and put Humboldt State up 3-0.

The Pioneers roared back in the bottom of the second inning, posting seven runs on three hits and five walks in their half of the inning. East Bay scored all seven runs with two outs, starting off the inning with a one-out walk for Yaller, followed by two-out walks for Nikki Freiberg and Winger to load the bases. The Pioneers' first run came on a wild pitch by starter Kristina Lewis, sending her to the bench in favor of Jennifer Sizemore, who fared no better. Sizemore immediately walked Mishka Hamor before giving up a single to Emily Montanez to drive in both Freiberg and Winger and tie the game 3-3. Taylor Neumann came to the plate with two on and two out and broke open the tie with a three-run shot to right center, her first homerun of the season, giving East Bay a 6-3 advantage. The Pioneers scored their final run of the inning after Lewis returned after Sara Holdridge singled and Dani Foster was hit by a pitch. Lewis loaded the bases after walking Yaller and Holdridge came home on a wild pitch to put East Bay up 7-3 before the Jacks finally ended the inning.

The Pioneers added another pair in the bottom of the third on RBI singles from Neumann and Holdridge to take a 9-3 lead, which they held going into the bottom of the fifth inning. Needing just two runs to win by eight-run rule, East Bay opened the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back walks for Neumann and Holdridge. A sacrifice bunt from Foster moved the runners to second and third for Yaller, whose double to right center brought around Neumann and pinch runner Cassidy Zeiner to give the Pioneers the win in five innings.

Sizemore took the loss for Humboldt State, finishing with a line of four runs on three hits in less than an inning of work.

Neumann led the Pioneers at the plate on the day, going 3-for-6 with two runs and four RBI, while helping both her battery mates to complete game victories. Winger finished with two runs and four RBI as well, while Yaller went 2-for-3 scoring two and driving in two and drawing three walks. Montanez also had a great day offensively, going 3-for-6 with a pair of runs and RBI and a walk.

Cal State East Bay and Humboldt State return to action tomorrow for another doubleheader to close out the series. The Pioneers and Jacks are set to wrap things up beginning at 11 a.m. at Pioneer Softball Field.