Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CHICO, Calif. – The Pioneer softball team took advantage of three Chico State errors to take a 4-2 lead late in the second game of their doubleheader on Saturday. The Wildcats rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh and scored the winning run in the eighth to stun the Pioneers, 5-4. Chico State won 5-0 in the first game to sweep the doubleheader and the four-game series.

East Bay stands at 5-15 in CCAA play and 7-19 for the season. Chico State improves to 13-7 in the CCAA and 15-10 overall. 

In the second game, the Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Taryn Thomas led off the inning with a single, and later scored on a base hit by Sara Holdridge.

Brynn Lesovsky and Amanda Cordeiro each had RBI singles as the Wildcats countered with two runs in the bottom of the second to take a 2-1 lead.

East Bay loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth, but was unable to push a run across the plate. 

The Wildcats had a golden opportunity to extend their lead with the bases loaded and no one out in the bottom of the fifth. However, the scoring threat ended when Desiree Gonzalez lined into a double play and Kayla Barber grounded out.

The Pioneers took advantage of three Wildcat errors to take a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth. With one out, Meli Sanchez singled through the left side. Mandy Dale reached base on a fielder's choice as Sanchez advanced to second on a Chico State error. Nicole Adair was aboard on a Wildcat error, allowing Sanchez to score the tying run. After a Thomas groundout, Lauren Vestal reached base on the Wildcats third error of the inning as Dale and Adair scored on the play.

“We show a lot of heart to rally and take the lead in the second game,” Pioneer Head Coach Barbara Pierce said.

Chico State tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Kelli Keefe opened the inning with a bunt single. Alli Cook followed with a base hit. Emily McEnaney advanced both runners with a fly ball out. Gonzalez doubled down the line to score Keefe and Cook. Pioneer hurler Andi Andersen (1-7) retired the next two Wildcat hitters to send the game into extra innings.

After the Pioneers failed to score in the top of the eighth, the Wildcats would go on to score winning run in the bottom of the inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Alli Cook hit a grounder to first baseman Emily Montanez who nailed Alex Molina at the plate. McEnaney followed with a base hit to score Amanda Cordeiro with the winning run.

“We couldn't hold the lead,” Pierce said. “I felt we ran out of gas in the last two innings.”

Sanchez and Adair each had two hits and scored a run for the Pioneers. Andersen allowed four runs, three earned, 12 hits, two walks and two strikeouts in 7.2 innings.

In the first game, Marlee Rettig had a RBI single highlighted a two-run, first inning for the Wildcats.  McEnaney singled to drive in Keefe as the Wildcats extended their lead to 3-0 after two innings.

The Pioneers only scoring opportunity came in the top of the third. Vestal and Thomas each singled, but were stranded on base.

Chico State ended the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Keefe opened the inning with an infield single and reached second on a stolen base. Gonzalez doubled home Keefe and later scored on a run scoring single off the bat of Barber.

Molina improved to 9-3 as she blanked the Pioneers on two hits, one walk and no strikeouts.  

Pioneer hurler Lauren Zweigle (6-10) went the distance allowing five runs, three earned, nine hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

East Bay will take a break from CCAA play and host Academy of Art on March 27.

“We're hitting the bye week in conference play at a good time,” Pierce said. “This will give us some time to get healthier and keep working.”