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

BELMONT, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay softball team evaded the rain to get in its final non-conference games of the season, splitting a doubleheader with Notre Dame de Namur on Wednesday in Belmont. The Pioneers (27-20) fell to the Argonauts for the second time this season in game one, 4-1, before getting an extra-inning grandslam from junior Devon Mercurio to top NDNU, 5-2, in eight innings in the nightcap. 

Game 1: Notre Dame de Namur 4, Cal State East Bay 1
After two scoreless innings to start off the game, the Argonauts opened scoring in the bottom of the third, getting a two-run homer from Mary Ortega and taking advantage of a double and two walks to take a 3-0 lead.

The Pioneers looked set to score in the top of the fifth, getting back-to-back singles from Mishka Hamor and Taryn Thomas to lead off the inning, but NDNU got out of the jam with a pair of groundouts and a pop up to keep East Bay scoreless. The Argonauts tacked on another run in their half of the inning, however, putting together back-to-back hits to take a 4-0 lead.

The Pioneers responded in the top of the sixth, when Emily Montanez started a two-out rally. After singling, Montanez advanced on a wild pitch and Devon Mercurio followed with a single of her own to put runners on first and third for pinch hitter Jessica Machado, who drew a walk to load the bases. Thomas brought in Montanez with an RBI single, but that would be all for East Bay as NDNU got Mercurio at third to end the inning still leading 4-1.

Argonaut starter Sammy McConvey sat the Pioneers down in order in the seventh to finish off the win, allowing one run on seven hits to give NDNU its second straight win over East Bay after handing the Pioneers their only loss during pool play at the Tournament of Champions at the end of March.

Talia Ferrari took the loss for East Bay, allowing four runs on eight hits in another complete game outing, her 10th of the season. Montanez finished the game 2-for-2 at the plate with East Bay's lone run, while Thomas went 3-for-4 with the only RBI in the game.

Game 2: Cal State East Bay 5, Notre Dame de Namur 2 (8 innings)
Pioneer starter Kelly Lowe and NDNU starter Hillary Ruddick were locked in a scoreless duel through the first three innings in game two, setting up a game that the two teams would need extra innings to decide. East Bay got to Ruddick first in the top of the fourth. Sara Holdridge led off the inning with a double and Devin Salmones followed with a single to move pinch runner Nicole Adair over to put runners on first and third with no outs. Montanez took advantage, singling to drive in Adair and give East Bay its first lead of the day, 1-0. Still with no outs, NDNU got a double play and a pop up to end the threat trailing by just one run.

The Argonauts answered right back in the bottom of the inning as Sara Montecino hit a solo homer to give NDNU its second hit and tie the game 1-1 through four innings. Lucinda Knudson took over for Ruddick but picked up right where she left off and both she and Lowe held the opposition without another run through seven innings.

Tied 1-1, the two teams went to the international tiebreaker in extra innings, with the Pioneers starting off the eighth with Cassidy Zeiner, who took over catching duties in the fourth, on second. Holdridge again led off the inning with a hit, singling to put runners on first and third before Salmones walked to load the bases with one out for Mercurio. The third baseman took advantage of the situation, blasting a grandslam – her first homer of the season – to clear the bases and give the Pioneers a 5-1 lead. East Bay looked set to increase the lead, as Hamor singled and Thomas followed with a double before Knudson got a pair of groundouts to end the top half of the inning.

Trailing 5-1, the Argonauts were down to their final three outs, but managed to bring in the runner who was placed at second with two outs to cut the East Bay lead to three, 5-2. Lowe, however, got a fly ball to end the game and earn the win and the split.

Lowe improved to 6-7 with the win, allowing just one earned run on five hits and matching her season high with eight strikeouts in her third complete game of the year. Mercurio was the hero at the plate, going 2-for-4 and driving in four runs thanks to her grandslam. Jamie Yaller finished 3-for-4, while both Hamor and Holdridge went 2-for-4 in the victory.

The Pioneers are now 7-3 in their last 10 games and finished the non-conference campaign with a 14-5 record. Lowe and Ferrari combined to collect nine wins in those games, while Yaller led the way with a .444 average, 19 runs and 24 RBI, all of which led the team in non-conference contests.

Cal State East Bay now looks ahead to the final eight games of the CCAA season, beginning this weekend at Humboldt State. The Pioneers and Jacks will meet for the first of two doubleheaders at 12 p.m. on Saturday in Arcata.