Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay extended its home winning streak to three games following a doubleheader sweep of Holy Names on Tuesday at Pioneer Field. Pitchers Emily Perlich and Jordan Abel combined for a game one 8-0 shutout victory, and the Pioneers used late heroics to eke out a 5-4 game two win over the Hawks.
Perlich (2-8) shut down the Holy Names (7-20) lineup allowing just two hits over five shutout innings. Over the final five innings she and Abel stranded eight Hawks on base with at least one runner in scoring position in each frame.
"Emily and Jordan did great in the circle today only giving up two earned runs in 13 innings. It was great for us to pick up our first shut out of the season. We are excited to carry this momentum into the weekend," commended East Bay Head Coach
Barbara Pierce of her pitchers.
In her previous seven starts, the Pioneer offense supported Perlich with only five total runs (0.72 runs per game). On Tuesday the East Bay bats got to work early and often scoring runs in five of six innings.
"It was great to get our offense going again today. We manufactured 12 of our 13 runs and came up with some great clutch hits," praised Pierce.
Marisa Lerma, Ali Cerminara,
Chelsie Kakela, and Jaynie MacDonald connected for four straight base hits that extended a one run lead to 3-0 in the third inning. It was the first of three straight run producing plate appearances for Kakela including the RBI-single, a fourth inning bases loaded walk, and a game ending RBI-double in the sixth.
Lauren Vestal continued to stay hot at the plate going 3-for-4 highlighted by a two-run fifth inning double. She finished 6-for-8 on the day and has multiple base hits in four straight games following Tuesday's doubleheader.
Courtney Tarbat led Holy Names going 2-for-3 at the plate. She provided the team's lone extra base hit with a leadoff double in the second inning. HNU starting pitcher Karolanne Tipton (1-6) took the loss allowing three runs (two earned) off seven hits and a walk in 2.1 innings.
Abel (4-0) was rewarded with her first collegiate start in the circle in game two against the Hawks. She was spotted a 1-0 lead in the first inning and held the lead through four innings after retiring 12 of the first 13 batters faced.
The freshman hurler found trouble in the fifth as the Hawks first runs of the day put them ahead. A two-out rally capped off by a Mekenna Thurber two-run single put Holy Names ahead 3-1.
A Lerma RBI-single cut the deficit to one, and a sixth inning leadoff homer from Kakela tied the game. Run scoring singles from Kelsey LaVaute and Vestal gave the home side a 5-3 lead putting Abel in line for the win.
Down to their final out, the Hawks would not go down without a fight. A four pitch walk, an errant Pioneer throw, a single, and a late throw on a force play created a 5-4 game with the bases loaded.
On the ensuing at bat, a collision between East Bay shortstop Nikki Foster and the runner advancing to third base was called interference for the third and final out.
HNU starter Vanessa Pulido (4-3) went 5.1 innings and allowed five runs off nine hits and one walk. Five different Hawks collected a single in game two.
Cal State East Bay (8-14, 5-11 CCAA) will be on the road for back-to-back doubleheaders against nationally ranked No. 7 Humboldt State (21-6, 11-5 CCAA) starting on Friday, March 14.
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