HAYWARD, Calif. – The Cal State East Bay softball team swept their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series opening doubleheader over the visiting Stanislaus State Warriors on Thursday, March 23 at Pioneer Softball Field.
The Pioneers improved to 16-12 on the season and 12-12 in CCAA play by claiming a 4-1 victory in the opening game and cruising to a 8-3 win to sweep the doubleheader.
CSUEB showed their offense prowess early and often as junior
Ashley Allen blasted a lead off home run over the left center fence to put the Pioneers on the board first. For Allen, this was her second homer of the season as she notched lead off home run jacks in back-to-back outings. Allen finished the opening game with two hits, one run, a RBI and a stolen base.
Courtney Leyba followed with a single up the middle the proceeded to steal second base. Then an
Ali Cerminara sacrifice fly scored Leyba as East Bay took a 2-0 lead after the opening inning of action. Leyba completed the game with two hits, a stolen base and one run scored.
The Pioneers would take a 3-0 lead after
Jennifer Palmares singled through the right side to begin the bottom of the second frame. After a
Belle Placencia sacrifice bunt moved Palmares to second bases
Emilie Portesi brought Palmares home with a RBI double to left center. Palmares compiled two hits with a run for CSUEB. Portesi added a hit and a RBI for East Bay.
The Pioneers final run of the game would come in historic fashion as senior
Ali Cerminara added to her all-time career home run lead with home run shot to center field. Cerminara now has 27 career home runs, the most in East Bay history, and four homers on the season. She chipped in two hits, two RBIs and a run scored in the Pioneer victory.
The Warriors would add a run in the top of the fourth inning by CSUEB would hang on for a 4-1 win.
Abby Greer (W, 8-6) picked up her team-leading eighth complete game going all seven innings with three strikeouts and allowing no earned runs.
The Pioneers continued their offensive eruption in the next game ripping off all of their eight runs, including two more home runs in the opening frame of play.
Even with the eight runs by CSUEB in the opening inning, it was the Warriors the lit up the scoreboard first with two runs.
But the lead would not last long as East Bay freshman
Sarah Fukushima clapped a three run blast over the left field fence, scoring Ashely Allen and
Courtney Leyba. Fukushima has now five home runs in four of the last five Pioneer outings and leads the CCAA with 10 homers on the season. She finished the game with one hit, one run scored and three RBIs.
Ashley Allen added two runs and a stolen base while
Courtney Leyba had a hit, a run scored and a RBI.
In the next at bat, senior
Marisa Lerma pushed a single through the left side and fellow senior
Ali Cerminara followed with a single down the left field line. Sophomore
Tanya Galvan stepped up and crushed an RBI single to left field scoring Lerma and giving the Pioneers a 4-2 lead.
In the next at bat
Jennifer Palmares knocked another three run homer to left field bringing home Cerminara and Galvan as East Bay took a 7-2 advantage. For Palmares it was her fourth home run of the season as she ended the game with a hit, a run scored and three RBIs.
Lerma completed the game with a hit and scored one run. Cerminara added two hits and a run while Galvan finished the day with two hits, a RBI and a run scored.
Ashley Allen would score the final run after a
Courtney Leyba RBI single up the middle scored Allen who reached on a fielder's choice.
The Warriors would tack on one final run as the Pioneers wrapped up the doubleheader with an 8-3 victory.
Olivia McWhorter (W, 5-5) racked up her fourth complete game of the season after tossing all seven frames. McWhorter recorded three strikeouts and only walked three batters to pick up her fifth win of the season.
The Pioneers and Warriors will complete their CCAA series with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 25 at Pioneer Softball Field beginning at 1:00 p.m.
