HAYWARD, Calif. – The Pioneer women's softball team will return home to face UC San Diego in a four-game series this weekend. The four-game series will begin on March 8 with a doubleheader in Hayward beginning at 12:00 p.m. The series will conclude on March 9 with an 11:00 a.m. doubleheader.

MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
On Saturday, Mar. 9, the Pioneer women's softball team will host “Military Appreciation Day”. All Military personnel are welcomed to the Saturday doubleheader. Nikki Freiberg, who played centerfield for the Pioneers in 2010 and 2011 and is currently in the Marine Corps, will throw out the first pitch on Saturday.

“Nikki was an incredible student and athlete at East Bay,” Pioneer Head Coach Barbara Pierce said. “She was routinely a 4.0 student and led our outfield for both of her years at East Bay from centerfield. I am extremely proud of what Nikki has accomplished in the Marine Corps. She is a great example of hard work, sacrifice, and commitment to something greater than herself. We try to instill those qualities in our athletes and Nikki is living those principles each day.”

PIONEER PREVIEW
The Pioneers are 4-8 in CCAA play and 6-12 for the season. Currently, the Pioneers are tied for 8th place. East Bay split a four-game series with Sonoma State last weekend. All four games were decided by one run.                                                                                                                                                                                

“We're putting it together as a team,” Pierce said. “Our team is on the right track to be competitive in the CCAA.” 

As a team, the Pioneers are hitting .231. Taryn Thomas, currently on an 11-game hitting streak, is the Pioneers top hitter with a .365 batting average. Thomas also leads the team with a .462 slugging percentage. Sara Holdridge, a .315 hitter this season, has a team-best 10 RBI. Holdridge had a good series against Sonoma State, hitting .357 with two doubles and three runs driven in.  Chelsie Kakela is hitting .240 with three doubles and two triples. Sara Pacioni is hitting .240 for the season.  Shaunna Purkey leads the Pioneers with six stolen bases.

“Our offense is coming around, but we have more potential as hitters,” Pierce said. 

Pitcher Lauren Zweigle is 5-7 with a 2.73 ERA in 15 appearances. Zweigle has eight complete games and 76 strikeouts. Zweigle pitched well against Sonoma State over the weekend, going 2-2 with a 1.33 ERA, two complete games, four walks and 21 strikeouts.

“Lauren has been really stepping up in the circle,” Pierce said. “Right now, she's the senior pitcher we need her to be.”

ABOUT UC SAN DIEGO
UC San Diego is 8-4 in the CCAA and 12-10 overall. Currently, the Tritons are in second place in the CCAA after taking three out of four games from Cal State Monterey Bay last weekend. The Tritons have posted an 8-4 record at home. As a team, UC San Diego is hitting .275, while the pitching staff has compiled a 3.13 ERA. Nicole Spangler leads the Tritons in hitting (.375) and doubles (7). Callie Grant is hitting .361, while Caitlin Brown has a .333 batting average and leads the team in home runs (2) and slugging percentage (.508%). Pitcher Kayla Hensel is 8-3 with a 2.97 ERA and 19 strikeouts.

UPCOMING GAMES
Following the four-game series with UC San Diego, the Pioneers will travel to Chico to take on Chico State in a four-game series beginning with a March 15 doubleheader.