SAN MARCOS, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay softball team dropped both ends of its doubleheader Saturday at Cal San Marcos, as the Cougars took three out of four from the Pioneers this weekend in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action.

The Pioneers (8-8, 4-8 CCAA) rallied back in the first game to force extra innings, but fell 8-7 in a nine-inning heartbreaker. San Marcos (5-10, 4-6 CCAA) then completed the doubleheader sweep with a 7-2 win in this afternoon's series finale.

The Cougars scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning in both games. In the morning contest, the home team managed to some damage against Abby Greer, who had carved them up for nine innings on Friday.

CSYEB found itself in an early hole, but the offense was up to the task. Annissa Gonzalez knocked in the first run of the game with an RBI single in the second. After CSUSM answered back to make it 4-1, the Pioneers hung five runs on the board in the top of the fourth. They took advantage of two Cougar errors, and Marisa Lerma got the big hit with a two run single down the third base line to put East Bay on top 6-4.

Unfortunately, the lead was short-lived. Gabriela Arizaga, who went 4-for-4 in the game, blasted a three-run homer to left-center in the bottom of the frame off Bailee Glover to put San Marcos back ahead.

The scored stayed 7-6 until the seventh inning, when the Pioneers finally managed a rally. Lerma led off with a double to the wall in center, and then with one out, Tanya Galvan shot an opposite field single to tie the game. 

The CSUEB bats couldn't break though for a run in the eighth or ninth, allowing the Cougars to notch the walk-off win. Sara Whelehon led off with a triple against Greer, who had returned to the circle. Two pitches later, Holly Fauria brought her home with the game-winning run. Greer took the loss to drop her record to 4-4.

San Marcos out-hit the Pioneers 15-10 in the extra-inning contest, as four East Bay players notched multiple hits. Senior Ali Cerminara reached base four times, going 2-for-3 with two walks and an RBI.

The afternoon game didn't have quote as much drama, although it was a one-run game in the sixth inning. Ultimately, CSUEB was unable to salvage a split as they had the previous day. 

The Pioneers fell behind 3-0 in the first inning on four hits and a base on balls by the CSUSM offense. Freshman pitcher Olivia McWhorter settled down after that and hung four straight zeroes on the scoreboard to give the East Bay a chance to come back.

Jennifer Palmares got the Pioneers on the scoreboard in the nightcap with a solo home run to left-center in the third. Three innings later, CSUEB put two runners in scoring position, and Haley Keahi cashed in with a single up to middle to plate Sarah Fukushima.

Any momentum the Pioneers had been building dies in the sixth, however. After leaving the tying run on third in the top of the frame, East Bay allowed the home team to tally four hits and a walk, and score three runs before CSUEB had recorded an out. 

Palmares had a big game, finishing 3-for-4 to lead an East Bay offense that totaled eight hits. Galvan also notched multiple hits for the second straight contest.

McWhorter (2-3) suffered the defeat after allowing six earned runs in five innings. Glover made her second relief appearance of the day in the final inning and retired all three batters she faced.

The Pioneers are finally headed home from their eight-game road trip, but the slate this week is an extremely tough one. They host the No. 1 team in the nation, Humboldt State, in a makeup doubleheader Monday at 11 a.m. Then, this weekend CSUEB welcomes in UC San Diego for a four-game series Friday and Saturday.