HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay rallied for five runs in the sixth inning to earn a Friday split with No. 3 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay at Pioneer Softball Field. The Pioneers received solid efforts in the circle from pitchers Sierra Clark and Tatiana Beilstein giving them a chance to knock off one of the nation's top teams.

Cal State Monterey Bay 2, Cal State East Bay 1 – F (Game 1)
All three runs came in the first inning with the Otters taking advantage of two Pioneer errors. A two out, 2-run single from Madison Casto was the eventual game-winning hit as East Bay managed only one run off Monterey Bay pitcher Cori Reinhardt.

Lauren Vestal drew a leadoff walk and later scored on a Jaynie MacDonald single. Cal State East Bay had its chances with runners in scoring position in the second, third, and seventh innings in attempts to tie the game.

Down to its final out with runners on second and first, the lefty Vestal lined out to first base to end the game. CSUMB's Reinhardt escaped to preserve her perfect record, now 9-0, after the series opener. She surrendered four hits and four walks, and struck out three batters.

East Bay pitcher Sierra Clark was the tough luck loser after giving up only three singles and two walks while striking out four batters. She also led the Pioneers at the plate going 2-for-2 with a walk and was the only player with multiple base hits in the game.

Cal State East Bay 5, Cal State Monterey Bay 3 – F (Game 2)
Four of the team's seven hits came in the five run, sixth inning Pioneer rally. A MacDonald 2-run homer put East Bay out front, and singles from Alex Vela and Nikki Foster made it 5-1 and in need of only three defensive outs for the win.

CSUMB was on the wrong end of some bad luck as a leadoff walk in the seventh was voided and became an out due to an administrative lineup issue. The next two batters singled and Reinhardt brought them home with a double the following at bat.

East Bay pitcher Tatiana Beilstein was able to hold on for the win after getting the final two Otters to ground out. She went the distance and allowed three runs (two earned) to improve her record to 4-4.

Vela went 2-for-2 with an RBI and reached base safely in all three plate appearances. CSUMB leadoff hitter Courtney Varela went 2-for-3, and Bianca Noriega reached base safely in three of four trips to the plate.

It was smooth sailing for CSUMB pitcher Lindsay Clarkson until the sixth inning. She struck out 11 batters in 5.2 innings and surrendered five runs (three earned). Four of the seven East Bay hits came in the game-deciding rally.

Cal State East Bay (14-8, 7-7 CCAA) will host No. 3 Cal State Monterey Bay (14-3, 7-3 CCAA) for two more games on Saturday, March 7, starting at Noon.