HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay softball team split a pair of tight games with Cal State San Bernardino Friday afternoon on a gorgeous day at Pioneer Field to open the final California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) series of the regular season.

The Pioneers (27-23, 19-17) hung on for a 3-2 win in the opener as Abby Greer fired a complete game to out-duel CSUSB ace Cassandra Williams. The Coyotes (35-17, 25-13 CCAA) kept their playoff hopes alive with a 4-2 win in game two, never trailing after scoring three in the top of the first inning.

East Bay went up against one of the top pitchers in the conference in the first game, but the home team managed to get on the scoreboard first against the Coyote southpaw. Ali Cerminara and Jennifer Palmares singled and Tanya Galvan was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. With Emilie Portesi batting, a wild pitch got away to the backstop allowing Cerminara to score. The catcher's throw back towards the plate also got away, and Galvan came around to score as well.

The Pioneers led 2-0 until the fourth, when CSUSB finally got to Greer. Two hits sandwiched around a walk and a bunt brought home one run for the visitors. A two-out ground ball might have ended the inning, but a CSUEB error allowed the tying run to score.

Impressively, East Bay answered right back. Cerminara was hit by a pitch, Palmares walked, and Belle Placencia executed an outstanding push bunt for an infield hit to load the bases. Portesi then brought home the go-ahead run for the Pioneers with a sacrifice fly.

Greer did not let the lead to get away again. The freshman allowed just one hit over the final three scoreless innings to seal the victory. She gave up just four total hits and one earned run in the game, and she struck out seven to improve to 14-11 for the season. 

Palmares was the only Pioneer with multiple hits in the win, finishing 2-for-2 with a walk. Portesi did not take an official at bat, but nonetheless had a productive game with two walks and the game-winning sac fly. 

Friday's second game was another exciting contest, but this time it was the Coyotes to strike first offensively. Jessica Brown led off the game with a solo home run to center against Olivia McWhorter. San Bernardino scored twice more in the first inning off two hits and two Pioneer errors, putting East Bay in a hole before they even came to bat.

Head coach Claire Sua Amundson went to her bullpen to start the second inning, and sophomore Bailee Glover was very effective in relief. She allowed one unearned run in the fourth, but held the Coyotes down otherwise. Glover finished the game and gave up just one hit over the final six innings. 

The Pioneers had just six hits in game two, and the offense came entirely via the long ball. Freshman phenom Sarah Fukushima belted her CCAA-leading 14th home run of the season to get the home team on the board in the fourth.

Two innings later, Cal State East Bay's all-time home run leader Ali Cerminara added to her program record with another solo blast to center field. It was the senior's eighth homer of the season and the 32nd of her four-year career. Cerminara knocked in her 123rd career run as well, which is also a school record.

The Pioneers will wrap up the 2017 season on Saturday with another doubleheader against CSUSB. Fitch pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. following the annual "Senior Day" ceremony, during which East Bay will celebrate the careers of seniors Cerminara, Marisa Lerma, and Ashley Allen.