CARSON, Calif. – Cal State East Bay will return to California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play on the road against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Pioneers and Toros will battle at the Toro Diamond in back-to-back doubleheaders starting on Friday, March 28.

Website: CCAA Softball Standings

"This is a huge weekend for us. We are putting it together and it is important for us to play to our potential this weekend. Dominguez Hills has a good program, so we need to stay focused and play one pitch at a time," said East Bay Head Coach Barbara Pierce.

Cal State East Bay (11-17, 6-14 CCAA) enters this weekend on a three-game winning streak. Most recently the Pioneers swept Dominican in a Sunday doubleheader following a victory in the series finale over No. 6 Humboldt State. The Pioneers can overtake Cal State Dominguez Hills (14-20, 8-16 CCAA) in the league standings by taking at least 3-of-4 games this weekend.

East Bay starting pitcher Emily Perlich has a 2.17 ERA over her last nine starts, and currently ranks sixth in the CCAA with 59 strikeouts on the season. Kelsey Cairns has a 1.37 ERA with six strikeouts over her last two outings and picked up the win in game two of Sunday's doubleheader with Dominican.

The offense continues to be led by Lauren Vestal with her .381 batting average, 10 doubles, and 16 runs scored. She is currently ranked among the top 10 CCAA players in batting average and doubles entering weekend play. Teammate Chelsie Kakela also ranks among top 10 league players in slugging percentage (.606) and home runs (6).

Cal State East Bay will need to be productive and nearly mistake free to turn the tide in this one-sided series since joining the CCAA for the 2010 season. Cal State Dominguez Hills has won 14-of-17 meetings between the two squads and have won all four season series'.

This season the Pioneers are 10-4 when scoring three runs or more and just 1-13 when held to two runs or less. CSUEB has a winning record when playing error-free softball, but only 5-15 when committing at least one error.

Cal State Dominguez Hills enters this weekend as losers of 13 straight games. The Toros last victory was the opening game of its series with Cal State Monterey Bay back on March 3.

Jamie Duran leads CSUDH pitchers with a 9-11 record, 17 complete games, three shutouts, and a 3.87 ERA. The Toros staff has a 5.46 team ERA and are allowing opponents to hit at a .310 clip this season.

Adriana Sanchez highlights the regular starters with her .413 batting average, 14 doubles, eight homers, and 30 RBI. She ranks in the CCAA top five in doubles, homers, slugging percentage (.780), hits (45), and RBI.

The Toros are hitting over .300 as a team and currently boast four regulars hitting over .320 this season. Catherine Brown, Kaci McGinnis, and Madison Murphy all have 10 extra base hits and at least 15 RBI on the year.

For more information on upcoming games, visit the Cal State East Bay softball schedule page.

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