HAYWARD, Calif. – The Pioneer women's softball team will return home to face Cal State Dominguez Hills in a four-game series this Friday and Saturday. The series will begin on April 12 with a doubleheader in Hayward beginning at 1:00 p.m. The series will conclude on April 13 with another doubleheader at 11:00 a.m. Prior to the start of Saturday's doubleheader, the five Pioneer seniors will be honored for their outstanding contributions both on and off the diamond. Saturday will also be “Girl Scouts Day” at Pioneer Softball Field.
 
HONORING THE FIVE SENIORS 
Four-year senior Sara Holdridge, hitting .352 for the season, leads the Pioneers in home runs (2), RBI (21), doubles (10), slugging percentage (.500), and on-base percentage (.458). Holdridge also led the team with a .529 batting average and five RBI at the Tournament of Champions. Among the all-time leading hitters in Cal State East Bay history, Holdridge ranks second in career home runs (21), fifth in RBI (94), eighth in doubles (27), and ninth in hits (138). 

“Sara has had an amazing career at East Bay,” Pierce said. "She has been one of the most consistent hitters I have ever coached. Sara is a true competitor, someone who never takes a day off. During her four years, Sara became the second leading home run hitter in East Bay history.”

Emily Montanez will also be concluding a four-year playing career with the Pioneers. Montanez has compiled a .973 fielding percentage from her first base position, and she hit .357 last week in the Tournament of Champions.

“Emily was a four-year starter at first base,” Pierce said.  She's a great student and athlete. Emily is a true leader who will do whatever it takes to make the team better.”

Lauren Zweigle is the all-time leader among Cal State East Bay pitchers with 331 strikeouts in four seasons. Zweigle is also second all-time in saves (6), third in innings pitched (422), and eighth in wins (23). This season, Zweigle leads the Pioneers in virtually every pitching category. Zweigle has eight victories, 13 complete games, a 3.32 ERA, and 105 strikeouts in 132.2 innings.

“Lauren has made a huge contribution to our pitching staffs over the last four years,” Pierce said. “She has set the career record for strikeouts at East Bay. We have used her as a starter, closer and everything in between, and she has proven to be successful in any role we've needed.”

Nicole Adair will be completing her second season with the Pioneers. Adair has started all 38 games in the outfield for the Pioneers in 2013. She hit .353 at the Tournament of Champions last weekend and is second on the Pioneers with 15 runs scored. Adair had a game-winning hit against Academy of Art and made a game-saving catch in a Pioneer victory over Cal State San Bernardino. 

“Nicole has anchored our outfield this season and been a consistent performer at the plate,” Head Coach Barbara Pierce said. “She's one of our hardest workers and someone who shows up every day to get better.”

In her second year, Taryn Thomas is the Pioneers top hitter with a .374 batting average in 2013. Earlier in the season, Thomas had an 11-game hitting streak, and for the yearm, she has hit safely in 30 out of 36 games.

“Taryn transferred to us for her junior and senior seasons,” Pierce said. "She has been a starter for us at second base both years, as well as our lead-off batter. Taryn has set the tone for us on offense and anchored us on defense."

PIONEER PREVIEW
The Pioneers are 7-17 in CCAA play and 12-26 for the season. Currently, they're are tied for seventh place in the CCAA. East Bay posted a 1-5 record at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock over the weekend, with the lone won coming over Dominican. Nonetheless, the Pioneers raised their team batting average over the weekend to .246. Thomas and Holdridge are the team's top hitters this season. Shaunna Purkey, who hit .500 in the TOC, has a team-high 13 steals. Freshman Kelsey Cairns is 2-2 with a 3.69 ERA and four complete games in four outings. 

ABOUT CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS
The Toros may have turned their season around after winning the 26-team TOC over the weekend. Heading into the tournament, the Toros had lost six games in a row, and they currently stand in sixth place in the CCAA with a 10-14 record. As a team, the Toros are hitting .297 for the season. Adrianna Sanchez leads them in hitting with a .425 batting average and has a team-high 13 home runs. Sanchez was named to the TOC All-Tournament Team. Veronica Vazquez, also named to the All-Tournament Team, is hitting .284 for the season. Stephani Jimenez, a .266 hitter, was named Tournament MVP. In the pitcher's circle, she's 14-7 with a 1.51 ERA and 131 strikeouts for the season.

UPCOMING GAMES
The Pioneers will play their final eight CCAA games on the road, beginning with a four-game series at Cal State Stanislaus on April 19.