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

HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay softball team returned to CCAA play with a split to open a four-game series with Cal State San Bernardino on Friday. The Pioneers (24-19, 11-15 CCAA) topped the Coyotes, 5-3, in game one before getting three-hit and shut out in game two, 2-0.

Game 1: Cal State East Bay 5, Cal State San Bernardino 3
The Pioneers got on the board first, getting back-to-back solo homers from Talia Ferrari and Jamie Yaller to take a 2-0 lead and knock CSUSB starter Carly Brand from the game. Though East Bay put two runners on thanks to a hit batter and a walk, the Coyotes got a double play to end the inning.

Leading 2-0, Ferrari got into a jam in top of the third after the Coyotes loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a pair of singles and a walk. The junior hurler ended the threat, however, getting a ground ball to third to end the inning. East Bay answered back with another three runs in the bottom half of the third. After Ferrari battled to work a 14-pitch walk, Yaller followed with a double down the left field line to plate Ferrari. With Yaller on second and no outs, Neumann blasted an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence to give the Pioneers a 5-0 lead and notch her 15th homerun of the season.

Cal State San Bernardino finally got on the board in the top of the fifth. After loading the bases, Ferrari hit a batter to bring around the Coyotes' first run. A single down the right field line brought in another run, but Breezy Johnson got behind it to prevent any further scoring. Ferrari then played some defense, fielding a comebacker to get the force at home. With two outs and runners on second and third, Ferrari got a groundball to second to send the game into the bottom of the fifth with the Pioneers leading 5-2.

Though she got out of a jam unscathed in the top of the sixth, Ferrari gave up one run in the top of the seventh but ended the game with a strikeout and fly out to pick up her 10th victory of the season. Ferrari allowed three runs on 10 hits and struck out two in seven innings of work to notch her eighth complete game of the year.

Yaller finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI to lead the Pioneers at the plate, while Neumann also drove in a pair and Ferrari scored twice and drove in one run to help out her own cause.

Game 2: Cal State San Bernardino 2, Cal State East Bay 0
Starters Kelly Lowe and Courtney Wilhelms duked it out for three innings before the Coyotes got on the board in the top of the fourth. After walks put runners on first and second, freshman Andi Andersen came on to pitch for Lowe. A groundout moved the runners over for Brittney Ybarra, who singled through the left side to bring in the game's first run. Andersen ended it there, however, getting another two groundouts to send the game into the bottom of the fourth with the Coyotes leading 1-0.

East Bay looked set to answer back in the bottom of the fourth, putting two on with one out. After Neumann reached on a fielder's choice, Sara Holdridge doubled to the fence in right to put runners on second and third. Following a pop up, Montanez worked a two-out walk to load the bases, but fast feet by Coyotes' shortstop Britney Butler beat the runner to third on a groundball to end the threat.

Cal State San Bernardino added another run in the fifth to extend its lead to 2-0, taking advantage of a Pioneer error and a single to score one before Andersen got out of the inning with a popup in the infield. Despite Andersen's scoreless sixth and seventh, the Pioneers could not break through against Wilhelms, who held the team to just three hits to record the shutout victory.

Cal State East Bay will close out the series with Cal State San Bernardino with another doubleheader tomorrow. The Pioneers and Coyotes are set for an 11 a.m. first pitch at Pioneer Field on Saturday.