Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Sound Byte: A. Vela (Game 1)
Sound Byte: J. Abel (Game 2)

HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay blasted six solo home runs during Friday's league doubleheader with Cal State San Bernardino at Pioneer Field. A program tying single-game record five came in a 6-3 game one victory, while Jaynie MacDonald's game two blast was the only run in a pitcher's duel ending with Jordan Abel notching the first complete game shutout of her collegiate career.

Standings: 2014 CCAA Softball

The Pioneer home run frenzy was off and running as leadoff batter Lauren Vestal belted her second of the season and first at Pioneer Field. A run-scoring double from Chelsie Kakela later in the frame gave East Bay a lead that Emily Perlich would enjoy throughout the series opener.

Meli Sanchez and Ali Cerminara each went deep in the third and Alex Vela provided an insurance run with the team's fourth long ball of the day in the fourth inning. Equally as important was Vela's defensive effort as she made two diving stops to start 4-6-3 double plays in the fifth and seventh innings.

The latter came with a runner on first and no outs as Perlich (9-12) looked to put the finishing touches on her ninth win of the season. The next two batters reached via base hits before Perlich fielded a comebacker and tossed to first base for the final out.

Kelsey LaVaute launched the first pitch offering from relief pitcher Brandy Morin over the wall in center field in the sixth inning providing the final 6-3 score. She is now tied for the team lead with seven homers this season and helped equal the team's record with five homers in a game set two seasons ago.

Cal State San Bernardino (25-19, 12-14 CCAA) outhit Cal State East Bay (18-23, 11-15 CCAA) 11-7 in game one. Five different Coyotes collected a pair of base hits highlighted by the 2-for-3, two RBI effort from Alyssa Ramos. Her two-run double closed the gap to 4-3 in the top of the fourth.

Perlich scattered 11 hits (nine singles) over seven innings and struck out two batters in the win. Cassandra Williams (13-10) allowed four runs over 2.2 innings and struck out three in the loss.

CSUEB's Abel (5-3) and CSUSB's Stephanie Luhman (11-8) were locked in a pitching battle as the pair combined to allow just seven hits, one run, and strike out nine batters. It would be the Pioneer freshman who got the win after timely defense and a teammate taking advantage of one mistake from her counterpart.

The Coyotes had scoring chances as the leadoff batter was aboard with a base hit in the second, fourth, and sixth innings. Mary Menicucci's double in the second was the team's lone extra base hit and she was later tagged out trying to score on an infield grounder. East Bay catcher Ali Cerminara threw out would-be base stealers in the fourth and sixth frames to eliminate CSUSB's opportunity to bat with runners in scoring position.

MacDonald had both of East Bay's hits in the game with the game-winner coming in the fourth. She deposited her sixth homer of the season over the left center field wall.

Luhman was the tough luck loser despite two-hitting the Pioneers. She struck out six and walked two in six innings in the circle. Abel fanned three batters and has lowered her season earned run average from 4.15 to 2.86 over her past three outings.

Cal State East Bay will host Cal State San Bernardino for another pair of league contests on Saturday, April 12, starting at 11 a.m. The Pioneers are only three games back of Sonoma State (30-14, 14-12 CCAA) for the fourth and final spot in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Post-Season Tournament with 10 games to play.

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