HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay softball seniors Brittany Enny, Nikki Foster, Kelsey LaVaute, Jaynie MacDonald, Emily Perlich, Alex Vela, Cassie Vela, and Lauren Vestal will be honored prior to the team's final doubleheader at Pioneer Field on Saturday, April 18. The Pioneers will host back-to-back doubleheaders against league foe UC San Diego starting on Friday, April 17.

The eight member senior class includes seven transfers, a set of twins, four out-of-state student-athletes, and a former East Bay volleyball team member who has played in 138 games for the Pioneer softball team in three seasons. Each of these individuals was part of last year's squad which finished with an 18-18 record in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the first .500 or better conference mark since joining the league in 2010.

Another first the Pioneers are hoping to accomplish is winning a weekend series against UC San Diego. Since 2010 Cal State East Bay is 5-16 against the Tritons and has only managed a split in one of the five series' between the two clubs. UCSD swept the 2014 league series and enters this weekend having won six straight versus CSUEB.

Cal State East Bay can keep its slim CCAA postseason hopes alive with a series sweep of UC San Diego. The Pioneers will need help around the league as they are 4.5 games back of Cal State San Bernardino (15-12) with eight games left and three other teams between them and the Coyotes.

UC San Diego's postseason hopes took a huge hit after suffering a home sweep to league leading Humboldt State this past weekend. The Tritons have lost five straight and managed to score just eight runs (1.6 rpg) during that stretch.

UCSD's offense ranks second to last in league play after scoring 83 runs in 28 games, less than three runs per CCAA contest. The Tritons have a losing league record besides a staff earned run average of 2.51 overall and five shutouts in CCAA action.

Cal State East Bay salvaged a split with Cal State Dominguez Hills after earning convincing 12-4 and 5-1 Saturday wins. The Pioneer offense had managed to plate only five runs (1.3 rpg) in its prior four games.

Reigning East Bay Female Athlete of the Week Gabby Gonzalez leads the team in league play with her .377 batting average and .429 on base percentage. Five of her six homers have come during conference games.

LaVaute's bat has come to life as of late as she is one of four qualified Pioneers hitting over .300 in league play. LaVaute (.313) is joined by Gonzalez (.377), Ali Cerminara (.354) and Sierra Clark (.345).