Box Score HAYWARD, Calif.  – The Pioneers pushed across two runs in the bottom of the 10^th inning to defeat Cal State Monterey Bay, 3-2, in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Otters took the second game, 9-1.
 
With the four game split, the Pioneers are 2-6 in the CCAA and 4-10 for the season. Cal State Monterey Bay stands at 5-3 in CCAA play and 10-7 overall.
 
Trailing 2-1 going to the bottom of the 10^th in the first game, the Pioneers pulled out the thrilling victory with two runs. Shaunna Purkey opened the inning with a walk and proceeded to steal second. With two outs, Chelsie Kakela reached base on an Otter error allowing Purkey to score the tying run. Sara Holdridge followed with a double sending Purkey to third. Sara Pacioni hit a 2-0 pitch for a single to score Kakela with the winning run.
 
The first game was highlighted by a classic pitchers' duel between the Pioneers' Lauren Zweigle and the Otters' Cori Reinhardt. Zweigle improved to 3-4 for the season, allowing one earned run, six hits, and recording seven strikeouts in 10 innings of work.  In 9.2 innings, Reinhardt gave up three runs, one earned, on nine hits, and four strikeouts.
 
Kakela had two hits while Holdridge added a sacrifice fly in the third inning for the victorious Pioneers.
 
“The first game was the most emotional win of the season,” Pioneer Head Coach Barbara Pierce said.   “We battled for 10 innings and came away with the victory.”
 
In the second game, the Otters struck for a single run in the first and two more in the third inning. Bianca Noriega had a run scoring single as the Otters scored twice in the top of the fifth to take a 5-0 lead.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay broke the game wide open with four runs in the seventh.
 
The Pioneers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of seventh inning.  Pacioni led the inning off with a single and advanced to second on a base hit by Emily Montanez. Vika Kafoa was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Purkey singled to knock in Pacioni with the Pioneers lone run of the game.
 
"We showed improvement in all areas of our game and came away with a four-game split against a good Monterey Bay team,” Pierce said.  “We'll continue to work on all phases of our game and get ready for Sonoma State next week.”
 
Following eight straight CCAA home games, the Pioneers will hit the road to face Sonoma State on March 1-2.