Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HAYWARD, Calif. – The Pioneer softball team split a doubleheader with Dominican University in their home opener on February 10.  Dominican won the first game, 4-1, while East Bay captured the second contest, 11-2.

Pioneer hurler Andi Andersen (1-0) hurled a complete game in the second half of the doubleheader. In six innings of work, Andersen allowed no earned runs on six hits and recorded four strikeouts.

“Andi threw a great game for us,” Pioneer Head Coach Barbara Pierce said. “She allowed no earned runs, while our bats came alive for second time in four games.”

Sara Pacioni went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in three runs. Taryn Thomas had two RBI, while Chelsie Kakela scored three runs. Shaunna Purkey contributed to the Pioneer victory with two hits, one run scored and an RBI.

The Pioneers struck first with a run in the opening frame. With one out, Kakela had an infield hit and later scored on a Pacioni single. East Bay increased its lead to 2-0 with an unearned run in the second inning.

Two runs scored on a Pacioni infield hit as the Pioneers built a 4-0 lead after five innings. In the sixth inning, East Bay took advantage of seven Penguin walks to score seven runs. Purkey drove in a run with a base hit.

In the first game, the Pioneers stranded 10 base runners, including five in the first three innings.

The Penguins struck first with a run in the top of the second. Rachel Santiago opened the inning with a single and two outs later came home on a Kayla Rodriguez infield hit.

East Bay tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Sara Holdridge singled. Holdridge was replaced by pinch runner Mandy Dale. Pacioni followed with a double down the right field line, but was thrown out at second base. Dale advanced to third on the play. Dale scored the tying run on a base hit by Emily Montanez.

“We were in position to score more runs in the sixth,” Pierce said. “We couldn't come up with the clutch hit and Dominican did in the seventh inning.”

Dominican broke the 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the seventh. Leslie Mesa had a two-run triple and scored on a Samantha Talavera base hit.

Pacioni and Nicole Adair each had a pair of hits for the Pioneers. East Bay hurler Lauren Zweigle went the distance allowing four runs on seven hits. Zweigle struck out five and walked four.

“Lauren gave us a chance to win the first game with her performance on the mound,” Pierce said.

Following the doubleheader split, the Pioneers are 2-2 for the season. Dominican is 4-6 overall.

The Pioneers will host Hawaii-Hilo in a non-conference doubleheader on February 12.