Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TURLOCK, Calif. – Lauren Zweigle tossed her first shutout of the season, leading the Pioneer women's softball team to a 3-0 victory over Cal State Stanislaus in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday. The Pioneers scored four runs in the first inning, but eventually lost to the Warriors, 6-5, in 11 innings in the night cap. 

The Pioneers stand at 9-21 in the CCAA and 14-30 overall. Cal State Stanislaus, which snapped an 11-game losing streak with the win in the second game, is 7-23 in CCAA play and 14-32 for the season.

In the first game, Zweigle (10-14) allowed four hits, one walk, and five strikeouts on 108 pitches. She retired the side in order in three innings and only allowed two runners to reach second base all game.

“Lauren pitched a huge game,” Pioneer Head Coach Barbara Pierce said. “She's been working hard to pitch a shutout and she came through in the first game in a big way.”

Seven starters in the Pioneers' lineup had a hit in the victory.

The Pioneers broke open a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the sixth. Meli Sanchez led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a Sara Holdridge walk. Chelsie Kakela followed with a double to score Sanchez. Emily Montanez hit a single to send home pinch runner Allison Noble with the second run of the inning. Kakela then crossed home plate on a Warrior error.

“I really like the way we strung those hits together in the sixth inning,” Pierce said.

Zweigle got Kiley Mendez to pop up to shortstop in the bottom of the seventh to complete the shutout.  

Cal State East Bay got off to a great start in the second game with four runs in the top of the first. Kakela walked with the bases loaded to bring home Taryn Thomas with the first run. Montanez walked on four straight pitches to score Sanchez. Lauren Vestal then ripped a double to left center, driving in Kakela and Holdridge.

Lauren Liming, the Warriors' leading hitter, had an RBI triple as the Warriors scored two in the bottom of the first inning to trim the Pioneers lead to 4-2. Stanislaus tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, highlighted by a Cierrah Mullins run-scoring single and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Amy Droege.

The Pioneers stranded seven runners in the next four innings. Zweigle, who relieved starting pitcher Kelsey Cairns in the sixth, also kept the Warriors off the scoreboard in the next four frames.

East Bay took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 11th inning. With one out Vestal drove in her third run of the game with a sacrifice fly. The Pioneers had a chance to increase their lead, but left the bases loaded.

The Warriors would take the second game with a two-run rally in the bottom of the 11th. Brianna Nicholson reached on an error and scored the tying run on a double by Brittney Rickles. After advancing to third on a groundout, Rickles crossed the plate with the winning run on a wild pitch.

“Once again, Lauren pitched her heart out, but we couldn't get the win,” Pierce said. “It was definitely a heartbreaking defeat.”

Zweigle allowed no earned runs on four hits, with four walks and three strikeouts in 5.2 innings. The Pioneers collected 13 hits in the game, with Nicole Adair and Sanchez leading the way with three hits each. Holdridge, Kakela, and Montanez each collected two hits. Vestal drove in a season-high three runs.

“We need to rest up tonight and play good fundamental softball on Saturday,” Pierce said.   

The four-game series will conclude on Saturday with a 12:00 p.m. doubleheader at Warrior Field.