HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay freshman Emilie Portesi homered three times in her collegiate debut as the Pioneers swept Academy of Art in their opening day doubleheader at Pioneer Softball Field on February 3.
 
The East Bay bats exploded for 27 runs and won both contests by the eight-run rule, which halted play after five innings.
 
After falling behind 2-1 in the first game, CSUEB hung 12 runs on the scoreboard in the fourth. Portesi blasted two balls over the center field wall and knocked in four runs in that inning.

The Pioneers used the long ball to take the lead in the second game, as well. They jumped out to a 6-0 lead on three first-inning home runs, as Courtney Leyba, Marissa Lerma and Jennifer Palmares all went deep. The Pioneers would lead 13-1 after three innings of action.
 
All together East Bay hit seven home runs on opening day after totaling just 18 in 46 games last season.
 
Portesi finished the doubleheader going 4-for-5 at the plate with five runs, six RBI, and 14 total bases. Her three home runs in a game and two home runs in an inning both tied school records that has been standing since 1999.
 
Leyba led off game two with a solo shot over the center field fence, her third career homer. She ignited the offense from the leadoff spot, reaching base in her first three at bast of the day and finishing 5-for-7 with four runs scored, three RBI, and nine total bases.
  
Cerminara went 2-for-3 to open the season, scoring four runs and knocking in five. Her third inning homer to right-center gave her 25 for her career, extending her program record. Her five RBI moved her into a tie for sixth on the Pioneer career list.
 
Lerma completed the day going 3-for-5 with three runs scored, three RBI, six total bases and a home run. The home run down the left field line was the fourth of her career.
  
Palmares went 2-for-6 with two runs scored, two RBI, and six total bases in her first collegiate doubleheader. Her first-inning homer was the first of her Pioneer career and helped give East Bay a 6-0 lead they would never relinquish.
 
Sophomore Tanya Galvan also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with three runs, four RBIs and five total bases.
 
Juniors Ashley Allen and Haley Keahi along with freshman Sarah Fukushima each added one hit apiece for the Pioneers through the double header. Combined they scored five runs and and totaled three bases.
 
Freshman pitcher Olivia McWhorter picked up her first career complete game win after going all five innings of the opening game. She gave up two earned runs on seven hits and closed out the victory after the Pioneers took a big lead.
 
Fellow freshman Abby Greer also compiled her first career win after making her debut with three scoreless innings to start game two. She allowed three hits and struck out one. Sophomore Bailee Glover tossed the final two innings to close out the afternoon.
 
Second year hard coach Claire Sua-Amundson was proud of her team's opening day efforts from all facets of the game.
 
"It's always a good feeling when you can come out in the first weekend and pick up two wins to start the season," Sua-Amundson said. "I think we did a lot of little things well today, from advancing runner to playing good defense. Our hitters did a great job of managing first day jitters and capitalizing on the opportunities that we had."
 
East Bay softball will return to action Saturday, February 4 with a home doubleheader against Holy Names at Pioneer Softball Field. The first game is scheduled to begin at noon.