Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TURLOCK, Calif. --- The Pioneers defeated Dominican University, 5-1, for their first win in the Cal State Stanislaus Tournament of Champions on Saturday. With the win, the Pioneers will face Dominican again in a Platinum Bracket game on Sunday. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.

East Bay (12-25) had a tournament-best five runs and 11 hits in the victory. Nicole Adair was 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Sara Holdridge, also with three hits, drove in a season-high four runs. Pitcher Lauren Zweigle improved to 8-13 for season, blanking the Penguins on two hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work.

“We needed that win,” Pioneer Head Coach Barbara Pierce said. “We hit the ball well, played good defense, and received two good outings from pitchers Zweigle and Nikki Fonteneaux.”

The Pioneers wasted no time jumping out to an early lead with two runs in the top of the first. Taryn Thomas led off the inning with a single, and moved to second on a bunt hit by Adair. Both runners advanced on a groundout, then Holdridge singled up the middle to plate both Thomas and Adair.

East Bay pushed across a run in the top of the second to extend its lead to 3-0. Shaunna Purkey reached base on an error and stole her team-leading 13th base of the season. A second Penguin error enabled Purkey to score.

Holdridge drove in her third run of the game with a base hit to score Adair as the Pioneers took a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning.  The Penguins got on the scoreboard with a run in the bottom of the sixth, but Meli Sanchez came up with a defensive gem by throwing out a runner at home plate to preserve the Pioneers' three run lead.

The Pioneers added their final run in the seventh inning as Holdridge notched her fourth RBI of the game with a double to score Adair.  

East Bay opened pool play on Saturday with a 5-1 setback to Cal Baptist. The Pioneers banged out nine hits, with Purkey going a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate. Adair had two hits in four at bats and scored a run. Emily Montanez knocked in the Pioneers' lone run and had two hits.

Freshman pitcher Kelsey Cairns (2-2) hurled her fourth straight complete game, allowing five runs on eight hits, with no walks and two strikeouts. Cairns retired the first nine Lancer hitters she faced.

The Pioneers jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Adair singled and advanced to second on a Holdridge base hit. Chelsie Kakela was hit by a pitch to load the bases, then Montanez had an infield hit to score Adair.

Cal Baptist (17-9) took a 2-1 lead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Kailey Willingham drove in both runs with a single. East Bay stranded runners in scoring position in the third and sixth innings. Jordan Mowatt had an RBI single as the Lancers added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh to put the game away.

The Pioneers qualified for single-elimination bracket play on Sunday with the win over Dominican, earning themsevles a rematch at 8:30 a.m. Visit the Tournament of Champions Homepage for the full schedule.