Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Freshman pitcher Kelsey Cairns hurled a complete game, and Meli Sanchez had a go-ahead single in the ninth inning to lead the Cal State East Bay women's softball team to a 5-3 extra-inning win over San Francisco State in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. The Gators came from behind to take the first game, 5-4.

The split leaves the Pioneers with a 10-24 CCAA mark and a 16-34 overall record. The Gators are 13-21 in CCAA play and 21-29 for the season.

In the second game, East Bay took an early 3-0 lead with three runs in the top of the first. With one out, Nicole Adair walked and went to second on a Sara Holdridge single. Chelsie Kakela doubled to score Adair. Emily Montanez then stroked a base hit to right field, driving in Holdridge and Kakela.

San Francisco State scored a run in the bottom of the first, and tied the game in the third on a two-run single by Cara Spence.

The Pioneers had a runner in scoring position in the fifth and two more in the sixth inning, but were unable to take the lead.

The Gators threatened in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Brittany Barcellos singled and stole second. Ashley Huff walked to put two runners on base. But Cairns was able to get Gabby Reta to ground out, ending the Gator Rally.

Cairns retired Jennifer Lewis on a lineout with runners on second and third in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.

East Bay won the game with two runs in the top of the ninth. Shaunna Purkey led off the inning with an infield hit. Taryn Thomas followed with a bunt single. After both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt, Sanchez singled through the left side, scoring Purkey with the go-ahead run. The Pioneers added an insurance run when Holdridge knocked in Thomas with a sacrifice fly. Cairns retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to earn the complete game victory.

“Kelsey did a great job to hold them to three runs in the victory,” Pioneer Head Coach Barbara Pierce said. “We came up with some clutch hits. It was nice to come away with an extra-inning win.”

The Pioneers pounded out 12 hits. Sanchez was 3-for-4 at the plate. Kakela had two hits in five at bats. Montanez drove in a pair of runs. Cairns (3-5) hurled her sixth complete game of the season, giving up three runs (two earned) and nine hits, with three walks and one strikeout.

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Pioneers erupted for four runs in the top of the third inning. Lauren Vestal opened the inning with a double. After reaching on an error, Purkey stole second for the 14th time this season, tops on the team. Thomas followed with a single to score Vestal from third, and Purkey came home on a wild pitch. After a fielder's choice and a double off the bat of Sanchez, Holdridge knocked in a run with a double of her own. Then Sanchez scored the fourth run of the inning on a Kakela sacrifice fly.

Courtney Gravel had a two-run single as San Francisco State answered with two runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Gators then pushed across an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth to make it 4-3.

Holdridge, Kakela, and Montanez all singled in the sixth, but they were stranded on base as the Pioneers couldn't extend their lead.

The Gators completed the comeback with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kelsey Murakami led off the frame with a double, and advanced to third on another double off the bat of Spence. Marissa Ibarra hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Murakami with the tying run. Spence then crossed home with the go-ahead run on a sacrifice bunt by Reta.

East Bay was retired in order in the top of the seventh.

“We let the first game get away,” Pierce said. “We had opportunities to get more runs, but ended up stranding runners in scoring position.”

The Pioneers collected nine hits in the game. Sanchez and Holdridge had two hits each. Lauren Zweigle (11-18) tossed her 18th complete game of the season, allowing five runs (four earned) and nine hits, with three walks and three strikeouts. 

All told, the Pioneers had another productive day offensively with nine runs and 21 hits. “Our hitting has been coming on the last two weeks,” Pierce said. “Meli, Sara, Chelsie, and Lauren all hit the ball well in both games.” 

The regular season will come to a close for both the Pioneers and Gators on Saturday, April 27th with a 12 p.m. doubleheader at the SF State Softball Field.

“Tomorrow will be another fight,” Pierce said. “It's their senior day and the finale for our five seniors, so both teams will be playing to win.”