Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TURLOCK, Calif. – Cal State East Bay softball capped off its weekend schedule with a Platinum Bracket runner-up finish at the 2014 Tournament of Champions hosted by Cal State Stanislaus. The Pioneers run-ruled Notre Dame de Namur 12-3 in the semifinals before falling to No. 20 UC San Diego 8-5 in the title game on Sunday afternoon.

Website: 2014 Tournament of Champions

"I was proud of the way we battled today. We may not have gotten the win against UC San Diego, but we played with confidence and fought until the end," said East Bay Head Coach Barbara Pierce. "Our team was excited to play today and are looking forward to getting back home and returning to league play."

Cal State East Bay would face two familiar foes on the third and final day of the weekend tournament having played both NDNU and UC San Diego previously this season. The Pioneers battled both teams on the road earning a split with the Argonauts and being swept by the Tritons in league play.

Cal St. East Bay 12, Notre Dame de Namur 3 – F/5
Four was the magic number for the Pioneers in Sunday's opener as Cal State East Bay scored that many runs in the first, third, and fourth innings against NDNU (16-22). All four of the team's extra base hits drove in runs with Chelsie Kakela's 2-for-2, three RBI effort leading the way.

Seven different Pioneers drove in a run with Lauren Vestal, Jaynie MacDonald, and Meli Sanchez contributing two apiece in the victory. East Bay was also the beneficiary of some wild Argos pitching which included nine free passes in all, four courtesy of walks and five batters were hit by the pitch.

NDNU's Shelby Reali (5-14) took the loss on Sunday allowing eight runs (seven earned) over 2.2 innings. In her previous start against CSUEB she allowed seven runs (two earned) in 6.2 innings while striking out five batters.

Emily Perlich (8-12) exited after four innings and 70 pitches with the hopes of saving her arm for the weekend finale. She allowed three runs (one earned) and struck out four Argos in the win and to clinch the season series 2-1.

UC San Diego 8, Cal St. East Bay 5 – F
The designated visiting Pioneers jumped out to a 4-0 lead after MacDonald's grand slam provided an emphatic start to Sunday's finale. It was one of six straight CSUEB hits in the frame that forced UCSD pitcher Alayna Brenman out of the game after recording only one out in the circle.

Tritons ace Alexis Edwards (16-2) entered in relief and retired the next two batters to limit the damage as the Pioneers left the bases loaded. She would close out the game surrendering just one run over the final 6.2 innings to pick up the win.

A fifth inning three-run home run from Caitlin Brown tied the game 5-5, and another three-run rally in the sixth was the difference in an 8-5 final score. She would finish the game 2-for-2 with four RBI including a double, home run, sacrifice bunt, and sacrifice fly.

UC San Diego played small ball, solid defense, and used a momentum shifting home run to chip away at the early deficit. Three straight hits to open the sixth inning including two courtesy of bunts eventually sealed the game.

After collecting six base hits in the first inning the Pioneers managed just four more after Edwards entered the game. CSUEB's Sanchez provided the lone extra base hit off her with a fifth inning RBI double. Sanchez was one of eight different East Bay players with a hit and tied for the team lead with Alex Vela with two hits apiece.

UC San Diego outlasted Montana State Billings 1-0 in the other Platinum Bracket semifinal to advance to the title game. Cal State East Bay finished 2-4 over the weekend with wins over Western Oregon and Notre Dame de Namur.

Cal State East Bay (16-23, 9-15 CCAA) will host Cal State San Bernardino (25-17, 12-12 CCAA) in league play starting on Friday, April 11.

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