HAYWARD, Calif. – Both teams battled each other and the elements during Friday's California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) doubleheader at Pioneer Softball Field. Cal State East Bay took the opener 4-3 and No. 19 Humboldt State earned the split winning game two, 3-1.

Four of Cal State East Bay's five runs on Friday came courtesy of two Jaynie MacDonald homers. The first turned a two run deficit into a lead and led the Pioneers to a series opening win.

East Bay starting pitchers Sierra Clark and Tatiana Beilstein went the distance in their respective games. Clark held the Jacks scoreless after being given a 4-3 game one cushion, and Beilstein won the battle with the Humboldt State hitters until the final out in the seventh.

Cal State East Bay 4, Humboldt State 3 – F (Game 1)
Humboldt State (8-5, 5-1 CCAA) is known for its offensive power and showcased it in the opening inning. Following a leadoff walk, HSU catcher Darian Harris lifted the 1-1 offering from Clark over the wall in center field.

Clark settled in following a circle visit from Head Coach Barbara Pierce and used a 5-4-3 double play turned by Marisa Lerma, Alex Vela, and Kelsey LaVaute. It was the first of two double plays turned by this group including an inning ender in the sixth.

The Cal State East Bay (12-6, 5-5 CCAA) offense packs some punch of its own with 15 homers entering Friday. After scoring in the second following a leadoff double, MacDonald changed the game in the third with one swing of the bat.

HSU starting pitcher Katie Obbema befuddled the CSUEB batters throughout the game racking up 11 strikeouts to only one walk. She hit three Pioneers along the way with two in the bottom half of the third inning proving costly.

Gabby Gonzalez and Ali Cerminara would come around to score as MacDonald skied the 0-and-2 offering from Obbema over the wall in left field. MacDonald admits she received an assist from Mother Nature on her eventual game-winning homer.

"It didn't feel like I got it. If there was no wind, it would have dropped at the fence," said MacDonald. "Everyone said 'nice hit,' but luckily there was some wind."

Clark had new life in the circle after MacDonald's team-leading fourth homer of the season. It was an exciting and nerve racking time for the East Bay newcomer.

"I was so excited (after the home run). It's great to have both great defense and offense supporting me," said Clark. "We have so many power hitters in our lineup. Anyone could have done that and it's nice that Jaynie did that today."

After benefiting from the MacDonald long ball Clark settled in and held the Jacks bats to just two hits over the final 13 at bats. She retired the side in order in the seventh despite battling some nerves.

"I went on the offensive and wanted to get ahead in the count. I want to do the best I can and shut them down," said Clark. "I had nerves, but they were good nerves."

Clark (6-1) scattered nine hits and struck out four batters to pick up her sixth win of the season. Her counterpart Obbema threw 130 pitches and surrendered only five hits in six innings.

HSU's Tiffany Hollingsworth led all players going 3-for-4 in the series opener. CSUEB's Gonzalez reached base safely in all three plate appearances including being hit twice and drawing a walk.

Humboldt State 3, Cal State East Bay 1 – F (Game 2)
Game two was a pitcher's duel between Humboldt State's Madison Williams and East Bay's Beilstein. The game was scoreless through six innings until a pair of clutch 2-out base hits gave the visiting Jacks the victory.

With two outs and two on in the seventh Harris, who hit the go-ahead 2-run homer in game one, came through in crunch time with a 2-run double to left center. The ball bounced inches in front of East Bay centerfielder Lauren Vestal's diving attempt.

On the next pitch Hollingsworth dropped a base hit just inside the right field foul line to plate Harris and make it 3-0. Beilstein had allowed only three base hits through six innings before the Jacks touched her up for three runs on four hits.

MacDonald's no-doubt homer with one out in the bottom half gave East Bay some hope late in the game. Rose Marston's 2-out single brought the game-tying run to the plate in Cassie Vela.

After working a 13-pitch pinch hit at bat in game one, she forced Williams to deliver eight in game two. Williams ended the game with her ninth strikeout in game two, the team's 20th on Friday, to pick up her fourth victory on the year.

East Bay failed to score in the third and fourth innings despite a leadoff double from Cerminara and single from Marston, respectively. Marston led the Pioneers with a pair of game two base hits.

Cal State East Bay (12-6, 5-5 CCAA) will host Humboldt State for a Saturday doubleheader starting at 11 a.m. Follow the official East Bay Athletics Twitter account for up-to-date information pending wet weather and possible schedule changes concerning tomorrow's contests.