SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Cal State East Bay softball won Saturday's opener on the road against San Francisco State, 5-4. All nine runs scored between the two squads can in some way be attributed to the seniors including the game-winning base hit from Lauren Vestal.

Cal State East Bay 5, S.F. State 4 – F (Game 1)
All nine runs scored in Saturday's opener were driven in by seniors from both squads. An apropos start to what will likely be the final day of collegiate softball for the 11 combined seniors, including the trio of Gators

Cal State East Bay seniors Alex Vela, Jaynie MacDonald, Kelsey LaVaute, and Lauren Vestal drove in all five Pioneer runs to in Saturday's opener. Two of the top four home run hitters in the history of Pioneer softball in MacDonald and LaVaute launched back-to-back homers in the third inning to put the Pioneers out front, 3-1.

San Francisco State (11-41, 6-30 CCAA) recognized its senior trio in Courtney Gravel, Lucy Fernandez, and Selina Rodriguez prior to the final two home games of their collegiate careers. The three graduating Gators would drive in all four of its team's runs and combine for six of eight base hits.

Fernandez was the key cog in the home side's offense finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI. She provided a first inning game-tying base hit, and smacked a seventh inning homer to pull the Gators within one run.

On two separate occasions S.F. State had responded with game-tying frames after Cal State East Bay raced out to lead. The Pioneers would need every bit of Vestal's 3-for-4, two RBI game one performance to win Saturday's opener.

A fourth inning RBI double scored Marisa Lerma to put the Pioneers ahead 4-3. Down to her final strike with two outs and a runner in scoring position, Vestal's third hit of the game added a vital insurance run heading into the bottom half of the inning.

Pitcher Sierra Clark came on in relief of Jordan Abel who tossed five-plus innings and allowed three runs (two earned) off seven hits and two walks. Clark surrendered a two-out solo homer to Fernandez before recording the final out of the game for the save.

Abel improved to 4-0 in the circle after throwing 100 pitches in Saturday's effort. All seven hits given up by the sophomore pitcher went for singles. The Gators senior trio of Gravel, Rodriguez, and Fernandez finished 6-for-12 with three RBI and scored all four team runs.

S.F. State 5, Cal State East Bay 2 – F (Game 2)
San Francisco State was able to send its seniors out with a victory in the final home game of their respective careers. The host Gators received some help from a pair of Pioneer errors which led to both scoring frames.

SFSU took a 1-0 lead in the first off a one-out error, and a potential inning ending ground ball in the fourth allowed the go-ahead runs to score. Fernandez piled on lacing the next pitch for a two-run double to give the Gators a 5-2 lead through four innings.

CSUEB's Clark was saddled with the loss giving up five runs (none earned) over five innings. Senior Emily Perlich tossed the final inning of the season in relief, and struck out the last batter she faced.

SFSU's Courtney Dunkel picked up the win after tossing 3.2 shutout innings of relief. She combined with teammates Jenny Obbema and Aryn Guzman to hold the Pioneer offense to just six base hits.

A. Vela hit a two-run double in the top of the fourth inning to give Cal State East Bay a 2-1 lead. MacDonald and Cerminara led the Pioneer lineup with two hits apiece in the loss.

Cal State East Bay (28-23, 16-20 CCAA) finishes tied for sixth place in the final CCAA regular season standings.