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

HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay softball team got off to a good start in its return from a two-week break from action, topping Cal State Stanislaus 10-1 and 2-1 on Saturday at Pioneer Field. The Pioneers (14-14, 6-12 CCAA) earned an eight-run rule win in five innings in game one after breaking out with a five-run first and relied on quality pitching in both games to hold the Warriors to just two runs to complete the sweep.

Game 1: Cal State East Bay 10, Cal State Stanislaus 1 (5 innings)
The Warriors got scoring started in the top of the first, taking a 1-0 lead on a bloop double, a sacrifice and a passed ball. East Bay answered in the bottom of the inning, however, scoring five runs. Taryn Thomas started things off with an infield single and advanced to second on a passed ball. Talia Ferrari reached base after a passed ball on a third strike to put runners on first and third. Ferrari then stole second to draw the throw and bring Thomas in to score to tie the game up 1-1. With one out and a runner on second, Taylor Neumann doubled to right center bringing in Ferrari to put East Bay up 2-1. Then with Neumann on second, Sara Holdridge doubled to bring in the third run of the inning. Devin Salmones followed with a two-run blast to left center to put the Pioneers up 5-1 after just one inning.

East Bay added on another pair in the bottom of the third. Jamie Yaller led off the inning with a double and two outs later Holdridge delivered again, doubling to left center to bring in the run and put the Pioneers up 6-1. Salmones and Devon Mercurio followed with back-to-back singles to bring in Holdridge and give East Bay a 7-1 advantage through three innings.

Taryn Thomas led off with a hit for third time in the bottom of the fourth and then stole second and advanced to third on an error on the throw down. Ferrari made it a seven-run game with a double down the left field line and Yaller followed with the Pioneers' second homer of the game, to give East Bay a 10-1 lead going into the top of the fifth. Lauren Zweigle came on to pitch the top of the fifth and shutdown the Warriors to hand the Pioneers the eight-run rule victory.

Ferrari picked up the win, improving to 5-3 on the season after allowing one run on four hits and striking out two in four innings of work. Zweigle allowed just one hit and struck out one in one shutout inning. Yaller, Holdridge and Salmones paced the Pioneers at the plate, each going 2-for-3 with two RBI. Yaller added two runs, while Holdridge and Salmones each scored once. Thomas also went 2-for-3, driving in one run and scoring two runs.

Game 2: Cal State East Bay 2, Cal State Stanislaus 1
After a scoreless first, the Pioneers got on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Neumann led off with a single to right and advanced to second before Holdridge reached on an error to put runners on second and third for Emily Montanez. The junior delivered with a single to center that brought in both runs and gave East Bay a 2-0 lead through two innings.

The Warriors answered back in the top of the fourth, getting on the board with one run on a double and single from the middle of the order. With runners on first and second and one out, Kelly Lowe came on to pitch for Zweigle and sat a pair down on strikes to get out of the jam and hold the Pioneer lead at one, 2-1.

After a scoreless fifth, the Pioneers threatened again in the bottom of the sixth. After Yaller reached on an error, Salmones hit a long fly ball down the left field line that looked set to be her second homerun of the day but just veered foul. Despite the letdown, Salmones worked the full-count two-out walk before the Warriors got out of the inning to send it to the 7th with East Bay still leading 2-1. Lowe finished off the game with a scoreless top of the seventh to complete the Saturday sweep.

Lowe improved to 5-4 on the year and allowed just two hits and struck out four in a scoreless 3.2 inning outing. Zweigle was also effective, though she didn't get the win, allowing just one run on five hits with three strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Cal State Stanislaus starter Natalie Rendon tossed a complete game but took the loss, allowing one earned run on four hits. Neumann finished the game 2-for-3 with one run, while Montanez drove in both runs for East Bay.

Cal State East Bay returns to action tomorrow when it will finish out the series with Cal State Stanislaus with another pair. The Pioneers and Warriors are set for a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday at Pioneer Field.