Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ARCATA, Calif. – Cal State East Bay battled to narrow road losses on Friday against nationally ranked No. 6 Humboldt State by 3-2 and 5-2 margins. The Pioneers will look to earn their first California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) road win of the season against the league's most potent offense in tomorrow's doubleheader at HSU softball field.

"I was very proud of how we fought today. Emily threw another great game and gave us a chance to win. Our hitters made good contact all day and are making nice adjustments at the plate. Kelsey did a great job keeping their hitters of balance in game two. It's going to be a battle tomorrow and we are looking forward to it," said East Bay Head Coach Barbara Pierce.

As has been the case throughout most of her starts this season, East Bay starting pitcher Emily Perlich (2-9) was locked in a pitcher's duel with Humboldt State's Katie Obbema (11-4). A scoreless tie after three innings was broken in the top of the fourth as the Pioneers grabbed the lead.

Two-out base hits from Jaynie MacDonald and Alex Vela followed by a passed ball put two runners in scoring position. On the full count offering teammate Kelsey LaVaute brought home both Pioneers with an opposite field hit to take a 2-0 lead.

After being spotted the lead Perlich gave up a fourth inning leadoff homer on a full count pitch to Dani Randall. It was her only hit of the game as she reached base safely in all three plate appearances including a pair of walks. Perlich would walk six batters in all with the final one of the game scoring the game-winning run.

Perlich also recorded five strikeouts with a pair coming in the first two times she faced HSU's Julie Peña. The third meeting between them would come in a two-out, bases loaded situation in the bottom of the fifth. Peña came through in the clutch driving in a pair of runs with the eventual game-winning single.

Obbema proceeded to retire the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings once given the lead. She scattered four hits over seven innings and allowed two runs (one earned) while striking out five batters.

Humboldt State (23-6, 13-5 CCAA) did all of its damage in the first inning off Cal State East Bay game two starting pitcher Jordan Abel (4-1). The freshman was tagged with her first collegiate loss after surrendering five runs (three earned) in just 0.1 innings.

At one point in the opening frame seven straight Jacks reached base safely. In her first relief appearance this season pitcher Kelsey Cairns had her best outing thus far. She finished out the game tossing 5.2 shutout innings while being effectively wild. Cairns issued three walks, hit three batters, allowed three hits, and struck out three Jacks in game two.

An Alex Vela two-run single in the top of the second created a 5-2 score and gave the Pioneers hope in completing a comeback. Vela extended her season-long hit streak to four games with the run-scoring hit.

HSU starting pitcher Liz Perez (6-2) held the lead through five innings but was lifted after issuing back-to-back walks to open the sixth. Obbema entered in relief and retired the next three hitters in order with the Pioneers potential game-tying run at the plate. She would set down the final six consecutive batters to earn her sixth save of the season and clinch Perez's sixth win of the season.

Cal State East Bay (8-16, 5-13 CCAA) will wrap up the weekend series against Humboldt on Saturday, March 15, starting at 11 a.m.

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