Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 HAYWARD, Calif. – Sara Holdridge hit a go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to lift the Cal State East Bay women's softball team to a 2-1 victory over UC San Diego in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. The Tritons took the second contest, and the four-game series, 11-2.

With one out in the bottom of the sixth in the first game, Holdridge belted the first pitch over the centerfield fence for her second home run of the season.  “The pitch was a change-up,” Holdridge said. “I'm glad I hit the home run and help our team win a big game over UC San Diego.”

The Tritons tied the game in the top of the sixth when Taylor Sepulveda doubled home pinch runner Kirsten Willmon. Pioneer pitcher Lauren Zweigle retired Alissa Gutierrez and Mya Romero with runners on second and third to prevent the Tritons from going ahead.

UC San Diego made things interesting in the top of the seventh. Callie Grant was hit by a pitch to open the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. A groundout advanced Grant to third. Nicole Spangler hit a ball to leftfielder Nicole Adair who made a diving catch to end the game.

Lauren Vestal gave the Pioneers a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning with a single to score Chelsie Kakela who opened the frame with a double.

Zweigle improved to 6-8 and tossed her 12th complete game of the season. In seven innings of work, Zweigle allowed one run, on five hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. In the third inning, Zweigle struck out Caitlin Brown in a 14-pitch at bat with runners at second and third to prevent the Tritons from scoring.

“The first game was awesome,” Pioneer Head Coach Barbara Pierce said. “Lauren threw another great game. 'Our bats did the job in the clutch and we came up with some big defensive plays.”

In the second game, the Tritons struck early with three runs in the top of the first. Brown hit a three-run home run, for her third round-tripper of the four game series.

The Pioneers got on the scoreboard with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Vestal opened the inning with a double and advanced to third on a single off the bat of Shaunna Purkey. Taryn Thomas had a base hit to score Vestal. One out later, Kakela singled to bring home Purkey.

UC San Diego answered with two runs in the fourth and fifth inning to extend its lead to 7-2. Maria Sykes and Sepulveda each had run scoring singles to highlight a four-run Triton seventh inning.

East Bay received a boost from reliever Nikki Fonteneaux in the second game. Fonteneaux entered the game in the first inning and proceeded to retire the first nine of 11 Triton hitters. In seven innings of work, Fonteneaux allowed eight runs, six earned, nine hits and four walks.

Thomas was 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI. Vestal had a pair of hits and scored a run.

“Our bats came around with nine hits in the second game,” Pierce said. After today's doubleheader, I feel we're getting better as a team.  We need to keep climbing and get ready for Chico State next weekend.”  

The Pioneers will travel to Chico State for a four-game series beginning with a doubleheader on March 15.