HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay used timely hitting and a 7-run inning in each game of Wednesday's doubleheader to earn 8-7 and 8-3 home wins over Notre Dame de Namur. Ali Cerminara, Allie Kornahrens, and Kelsey LaVaute combined to drive in 13 of the team's 16 runs on the day.

Cerminara, Kornahrens, and LaVaute drove in 11 of their 13 combined RBI with two outs in the inning. The Pioneers hit .412 (7-for-17) with two outs while the Argos went 3-for-17 (.176) with one RBI.

"Our hitters have been doing great. They are working counts, drawing important walks, and coming up with clutch hits when needed," East Bay Head Coach Barbara Pierce complimented. "It has also been great to see production from all five pitchers with solid defense behind them."

Cal St. East Bay 8, Notre Dame de Namur 7 – F (Game 1)
NDNU's (1-3) Cynthia Ream-Garcia put her team out front with a first inning grand slam over the left field wall, chasing East Bay starting pitcher and reigning California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Pitcher of the Week Emily Perlich from the game.

Enter East Bay newcomer Tatiana Beilstein who held the Argonauts to three runs (two earned) the rest of the way. Her effort gave the Pioneers a fighting chance with a potent offense looking for a spark.

CSUEB entered the bottom of the fourth trailing 6-1 and running out of chances. Cerminara, the reigning CCAA Player of the Week, came up clutch with a two out, bases clearing double to tie the game. Three pitches later teammate Kelsey LaVaute belted the eventual game-winning homer over the center field wall lifting the Pioneers to the win.

"That was the most exciting part of the game. Just watching this offense and these girls smash the ball," said Beilstein. "It was fun and I was proud of the team."

Beilstein faced a pair of situations in the sixth and seventh innings with runners in scoring position and one out while holding an 8-7 lead. She got a strikeout and ground out in the sixth, and outfielder Lauren Vestal made a sliding grab and threw to Nikki Foster covering second base to double up the Argonauts runner to end the game.

"My stress level was pretty high. I was pretty nervous, but I tried to stay calm and hold it down," said Beilstein who picked up her first win with the team in game one.

Cerminara and Rose Marston finished with two hits apiece to lead the Pioneers. NDNU's Alessandra Giannavola and Ream-Garcia combined to go 6-for-8 with six RBI and score three runs in the loss.

Shelby Reali (0-2) was tagged with the loss allowing eight runs (two earned) off seven hits and five walks in five innings. A fourth inning error early on eventually led to a seven spot and an East Bay rally.

Cal St. East Bay 8, Notre Dame de Namur 3 – F (Game 2)
A pair of bases loaded, full count, two out walks issued to East Bay put the Pioneers out front 2-1 in the third inning. It kept the inning alive for Kornahrens who launched a grand slam over the left field wall to break open game two.

"I just needed to score those runs. The pitcher threw it down the middle and I thought 'this was my chance," said Kornaherns about her momentum shifting round tripper. "Only being a (designated player) made me want to hit more and prove myself that I could be the DP."

An RBI double from Alex Vela capped off the team's second 7-run inning in the doubleheader. She led the Pioneers with two hits in the game two win.

That would be more than enough for East Bay starting pitcher Sierra Clark (1-0) who allowed one unearned run in five innings for her first win with the team. She teamed up with Kelsey Cairns to give up only three base hits while striking out six Argonauts.

Brittany Enny laced a fifth inning double to notch her first hit with the club. Allison Noble later drove her in to collect her first RBI and cap off a stretch of eight unanswered runs.

Cal State East Bay (4-0) will host Academy of Art (0-0) on Thursday, Feb. 5, starting at 11 a.m. First pitch has been moved from its originally scheduled Noon start time in anticipation of late afternoon rainfall.