HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay game two starter Emily Perlich arguably gave the gutsiest pitching performance of the season. After throwing 156 pitches over 10 innings and holding UC San Diego to just two runs (one earned), it wasn't enough to salvage a Friday split at Pioneer Softball Field after dropping 10-0 and 2-1 decisions.

"Emily's performance today was an out-of-body experience," said East Bay Head Coach Barbara Pierce. "It was great to see Emily show what she can do and what she is capable of (in the circle)."

Entering Friday, Perlich had thrown a total of 29 innings and had not thrown more than six innings in a single day all season. She did everything possible to put the Pioneers in position to rebound with a win following a mercy-rule defeat in game one.

Cal State East Bay took its first lead of the day in the bottom of the third inning following a Rose Marston one-out single. Unfortunately for Pioneer fans the offense stranded 14 runners on base with at least one stuck on the basepaths in nine of the 10 innings.

"Offensively we put ourselves in a position to win. Unfortunately they just scored first," said Pierce. "It was a great bounce back game for us. We showed character in coming back after the opening game."

UCSD eventually tied the game in the top of the sixth following an Emma Schneider RBI double. She finished 3-for-5 at the plate and led all players with three base hits in game two.

Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Marston single handedly put herself at third base as the potential game-winning run. After reaching first on a fielder's choice she alertly swiped second base after the Tritons defense let its guard down for a split second immediately following the initial play. On the ensuing pitch she advance to third base on an offering in the dirt with Ali Cerminara at the plate.

Later in the at bat Cerminara softly hit a ball which bounced near second base but was fielded by second baseman Kendall Baker. She thrwe to Schneider for the third out to force extra innings.

The Tritons took advantage of an East Bay error on the leadoff batter and scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the 10th. Perlich stranded the bases loaded to keep the Pioneers within a single run with three outs to go.

A Marisa Lerma leadoff single and one-out, nine pitch walk to Kelsey LaVaute put two runners on base. UCSD pitcher Alexis Edwards, who tossed a 1-hitter in the opener, came on in relief earlier in game two and completed four shutout innings for the win.

Edwards needed just 64 pitches in the series opener and made herself available for game two on Friday. She walked three, struck out two, and an infield second inning single to Lerma was the only base hit allowed by the Triton pitcher.

Schneider's two run homer in the first inning was the eventual game-winning hit in game one. A fifth inning grand slam by pinch hitter Ashley Chestnut capped off a 6-run frame which put the run-rule in effect for the visiting Tritons.

Cal State East Bay starting pitcher Sierra Clark went 4.2 innings and allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in the loss.

Cal State East Bay (23-22, 11-19 CCAA) will host UC San Diego (24-20, 14-16 CCAA) for the final two games at Pioneer Field this season on Saturday, April 18, starting at 11 a.m.

It will be "Senior Day" for eight Pioneers who will be honored prior to Saturday's opener. Nikki Foster, Jaynie MacDonald, Lauren Vestal, Alex Vela, Cassie Vela, Brittany Enny, Kelsey LaVaute, and Perlich will be recognized.