Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 KENTFIELD, Calif. – The Pioneer women's softball team opened the 2013 campaign with a doubleheader split against Dominican University on Saturday. East Bay won the first game, 6-1, while Dominican took the second contest, 3-0.

In the first game, senior pitcher Lauren Zweigle picked up the victory as she blanked the Penguins on two hits and four strikeouts in five innings of work. Andi Andersen hurled the last two innings and gave up an unearned run on two hits and one strikeout.

Designated player Chelsie Kakela hit a pair of triples and scored three runs. Meli Sanchez drove in a pair of runs, while Taryn Thomas was 2-for-3 at the plate.

The Pioneers struck for three runs in the top of the second inning. Sara Pacioni was hit by a pitch to open the inning. Vika Kafoa followed with a triple to score Pacioni.  Kakela and Thomas were both hit by pitches to load the bases with two outs. Sanchez singled to drive in Kafoa and Kakela.

With Zweigle shutting out the Penguins through the first three frames, the Pioneers added to their lead with a run in the top of the fourth. Kakela opened the inning with a triple and scored on an error.

The Pioneers made it 5-0 in the top of the sixth as Kakela hit her second triple of the game and later scored on a double off the bat of Nicole Adair.

Dominique Perry drove in Tori Johnson with a single as the Penguins got on the scoreboard in the bottom of sixth inning.

Sara Holdridge singled to right field to drive in Sanchez with the Pioneers sixth and final run of the game in the top of the seventh.

“Zweigle pitched great and the bats got hot in the first game,” Pioneer Head Coach Barbara Pierce said.

In the second game, the Penguins scored single runs in the first two innings. Johnson had an RBI single in the second inning.

Dominican (3-5) added a third run in the bottom of the fifth. Leslie Mesa singled to drive in Kayla Rodriguez.

The Pioneers loaded the bases in the sixth inning, but were unable to score. Pinch hitter Lauren Vestal singled to open seventh for the Pioneers. Shaunna Purkey was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second. Thomas line into a double play and Sanchez grounded out to end the game.

Dominican hurler Ashlyn Moriarity blanked the Pioneers on four hits.

The two teams will play a doubleheader on February 10 at Cal State East Bay. The first pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.