TURLOCK, Calif.-- Saint Martin's University came into their matchup with Cal State East Bay with a 26-6 record but the Pioneers used a nine run, 14-hit attack to hand the Saints their seventh loss of the season, 9-5, in the Pioneers first game Friday of the 2016 Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State.

East Bay nearly made an incredible comeback against Concordia (Ore.), but fell 8-6 in their second game of the day. The Pioneers are now 12-18 overall after splitting their two games.

GAME ONE: Cal State East Bay 9, Saint Martin's 5:

After getting 19 hits Saturday in a 13-1 game two win at UC San Diego, the Pioneers tallied 14 hits Friday against the Saints. Sierra Clark started in the circle and helped her own cause by going 3 for 4 with two runs and a RBI. Clark worked four innings and didn't allow an earned run while giving up four hits with three strikeouts in gaining her seventh win of the season (7-7). 

East Bay went up 3-0 after three innings and never looked back. The Pioneers scored runs in five of the seven innings to make thoughts of a comeback difficult for the Saints.

Ashley Allen had her best offensive day of the year as she set career-highs in hits (three), RBI's (four), and runs (three). Three of the RBI's came on Allen's first home run of her Pioneer career in the sixth inning to center field that extended the Pioneer lead to 9-3.

Rose Marston, Ali Cerminara, and Belle Placencia joined the hit parade with two hits each. Marston's three hits came with two RBI's, while Placencia recorded an RBI single in the fifth.

Kelsey Cairns pitched the final three innings and earned the save (1) for East Bay.

GAME TWO: Concordia (Ore.) 8, Cal State East Bay 6:

After the big win over Saint Martin's in the first game, game two against Concordia got off to a rough start. The Pioneers fell behind 8-0 heading to the bottom of the fourth, but the Pioneers would nearly eliminate the large deficit in the fourth. East Bay sent 12 batters to the plate and plated six runs.

The scoring got started when Allen continued her stellar day with a two-RBI single that made it 8-2. Allen would be brought home by an Allison Noble single to make it 8-3.

After an Annissa Gonzalez walk with the bases loaded scored Noble to make it 8-4, Placencia would cross the plate on a fielder's choice by Gabby Gonzalez to make it 8-5.

With two outs, Marisa Lerma drew another bases-loaded walk to plate Courtney Leyba to bring the Pioneers to within two runs. That would cap the rally, but with plenty of game left the Pioneers had new life.

Unfortunately, Concordia starting pitcher Jessica Lambourn settled down and didn't allow another run the rest of the way and hand the Pioneers the loss. Lambourn needed to put zeroes up on the board as Cairns would do the same in innings five, six, and seven. Cairns pitched 4.2 innings in relief and allowed one earned run on four hits. Tatiana Beilstein started in the circle and took the loss (5-8).

Noble went 3 for 3 in game two to lead the Pioneers in hits in game two. Allen's two RBI's made it six combined in the two games.

Pool play will continue Saturday at the Tournament of Champion. Cal State East Bay starts bright and early at 9:00 A.M. against Northwest Nazarene. The Pioneers second game of the day will be at approximately 11:30 A.M. against Montana State Billings. All games are at Pedretti Sports Complex in Turlock.