ROHNERT PARK, Calif. - Cal State East Bay earned its fifth straight Friday split to open California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play taking game two 7-1 over No. 24 ranked Sonoma State at Seawolf Softball Field. Starting pitchers Sierra Clark and Tatiana Beilstein put the Pioneers in position to win both games, but SSU's Amanda Llerena tossed a two-hit shutout as the hosts won the opener, 1-0.

"Sierra pitched her heart out and held a good offense to one run. Tatiana threw a great game and our offense came up big in game two. To give up only two runs on the day is a huge success for our pitching staff," said East Bay Head Coach Barbara Pierce.

Sonoma State 1, Cal State East Bay 0 – F (Game 1)
Amanda Llerena, the back-to-back CCAA Pitcher of the Week for Sonoma State, and the Cal State East Bay pitching ace Clark were locked in a pitcher's duel to open the weekend series. Llerena would come out on top taking her no-hit bid into the sixth inning on the way to recording a complete game shutout victory.

Clark was touched up in the third inning after three consecutive two-out singles brought home the lone run of the game. The top three hitters in the order for the Seawolves in Ancia Purdy, Keeley Ray, and Ashley Long providing four of the team's seven hits. Long drove home Purdy with a comebacker up the middle.

East Bay stranded the game-tying run on third base with two outs in the fifth after Llerena's throw to first base got away on Kelsey LaVaute's bunt. CSUEB leadoff hitter Lauren Vestal grounded out on the ensuing at bat to end the threat.

Gabby Gonzalez ended the no-hit bid with a one-out line shot over the shortstop. She reached base safely twice to lead the Pioneers.

Marisa Lerma collected the other base hit as Cal State East Bay was down to its final out. Llerena recorded her eighth punch out the game to end it and run her record this season to 11-3.

Clark struck out three, walked one, and gave up only one run on seven hits in the loss. For the second time in her past three starts she has allowed one or fewer earned runs and was dealt the defeat as the pitcher of record.

Cal State East Bay 7, Sonoma State 1 – F (Game 2)
East Bay starting pitcher Tatiana Beilstein was spotted three runs before entering the circle after the offense took advantage of two free passes. Back-to-back walks to open the game and a sacrifice bunt put two runners in scoring position for Jaynie MacDonald, arguably the team's hottest hitter.

MacDonald opened the scoring with a two-run triple and later scored on a two-out double from Lerma. Another two-out base hit in the fifth inning off the bat of Gonzalez extended the lead to four.

The only home run in Friday's doubleheader came in the sixth inning off the bat of LaVaute. Her opposite field blast plated Rose Marston to ease Beilstein over the final six outs for the win. A two-out pinch hit double from Cassie Vela in the seventh capped the Pioneer scoring.

SSU's Purdy played a large part in helping the host team avoid the shutout. She reached third base following a leadoff single and swipes of second and third bases. Purdy scored on a groundout to Nikki Foster, and no further damage was done.

Beilstein improved to 5-4 on the season after tossing her fourth complete game of the year. She surrendered only five singles and four walks in the win. SSU's Mayleen Mazon was tagged with the loss allowing six runs on 10 hits and three walks over 5.1 innings.

Cal State East Bay (15-11, 8-10 CCAA) and No. 24 Sonoma State (18-5, 10-3 CCAA) will finish the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 14, at Seawolf Softball Field.