Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Game 1 box | Game 2 box 

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Cal State East Bay softball team finished the Grand Canyon Kickoff Classic with its second straight split, topping Western New Mexico, 4-2 in eight innings, before falling to the host Antelopes, 8-4, on Sunday. The Pioneers (4-2) ended the weekend with a 2-2 record, topping both teams once to wrap up the first week of the season with just two losses.

Game 1: Cal State East Bay 4, Western New Mexico 2 (8 innings)
Western New Mexico got out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning, putting together a pair of singles and a steal to plate the first run of the game against East Bay starter Talia Ferrari. Both Ferrari and the 'Lopes starter hold the opposition scoreless for the next three innings. Trailing 1-0, the Pioneers broke through in the top of the fifth inning, scoring a pair of runs to take a 2-1 advantage. With one out, Mishka Hamor doubled to center before a Jamie Yaller single brought in East Bay's first run of the game. After a wild pitch allowed Yaller to move into scoring position, where Devin Salmones drove her in with an RBI single. The lead was short-lived, however, as GCU loaded the bases and then got a sacrifice fly to tie the game at two through five innings.

Neither team managed to score over the next two innings, sending the game into extras tied 2-2. Per tournament rules, the Pioneers had Nicole Adair placed on second base to start the eighth inning.  After a strikeout, Emily Montanez walked with two outs before Sara Holdridge singled to drive in Adair and put East Bay up 3-2. With runners on first and third, Breezy Johnson plated the insurance run with an RBI ground out to give the Pioneers a 4-2 advantage going into the bottom of the eighth. Despite the runner placed on the second, reliever Kelly Lowe was nonplussed, striking out a pair and getting a flyball to end the game and pick up the win.

Yaller finished the game 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI, while Holdridge, Salmones and Johnson added an RBI apiece. Ferrari did not pick up the win but went 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs on nine hits. Lowe earned her second win of the season, tossing 2.2 scoreless innings while striking out five and walking none.

Game 2: Grand Canyon 8, Cal State East Bay 4
Grand Canyon jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the tournament finale and never looked back. Though the Pioneers plated a run on a Salmones homer in the second inning, the 'Lopes answered back with a run in the third to take a 4-1 advantage and knock starter Kelly Colker from the game. East Bay added another run on a Yaller double and Holdridge fielder's choice to pull within two, 4-2, through three innings. GCU tacked on another run in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead, while starter Kiley Raica tossed three straight scoreless innings to send the game into the seventh with the 'Lopes leading by three.

The top of the seventh saw GCU add on another three runs, putting together four hits and pushing Lauren Zweigle, who came on in relief, out of the game in favor of Lowe, who got the last two outs to send the game into the bottom of the seventh. Trailing, 8-2, the Pioneers made the most of their final three outs, scoring two runs before Raica ended the game. East Bay put together three hits, including a pair of doubles from Montanez and Taryn Thomas, but could not draw any closer to take the loss.

Yaller continued her early season success on Sunday, going 4-for-7 with two runs, an RBI and two doubles in the two games. Thomas also helped lead the Pioneers at the plate, going 4-for-9 with two RBI, while Holdridge finished the day 3-for-7 with two runs batted in. Lowe picked up the sole win for the Pioneers and finished the day having allowed one hit and no runs in two appearances and three innings with five strikeouts.

Cal State East Bay returns to action next weekend when it opens the home and CCAA seasons with a four-game set with San Francisco State. The Pioneers and Gators are scheduled to open the first of two Homecoming Week doubleheaders on Friday, Feb. 10 at 12 p.m.