HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay softball team has been busy in the early part of the 2018 season, with 10 games already under its belt over the course of 12 days. 

That stretch has featured some low points, such as a doubleheader sweep at the hand of Academy of Art, and several high points, including twinbill sweeps of Dominican and Holy Names in non-conference action and a 2-2 series split against No. 15 Cal State Monterey Bay to open the CCAA schedule. 

After taking down HNU in a pair of high-scoring games on Valentine's Day, CSUEB returns to its conference slate this weekend with a trip to Stanislaus State for four games starting Friday, Feb. 16 at 2:00 p.m.

The Pioneers have batted .265 as a team thus far with a .344 on-base percentage en route to a 6-4 record. They have played eight of those 10 games at home, and this series in Turlock will be the team's first overnight road trip of the year. 

Sophomore Jennifer Palmares, East Bay's leading hitter as a freshman, has been outstanding in the leadoff spot through the first two weeks. She ranks among the league leaders with a .438 batting average and tops the team with four doubles as the starting shortstop.

Freshman Jocelyn Baldon has been a valuable addition on the infield and boasts a .350 average with a .438 obp for the season. Another newcomer to the Pioneer lineup is a familiar face. Junior Bailee Glover has a 3.86 ERA in three appearances in the circle, highlighted by a complete game victory against Holy Names. She has also been one of the team's top hitters so far, sporting a .286 batting average.

All four Pioneer pitchers have ERAs under 4.00 and the staff has a collective mark of 3.38. Abby Greer leads the team with 22.1 innings after tossing a one-hit shutout against the Otters in the back end of Saturday's doubleheader. Olivia McWhorter had an outstanding complete game effort in a 2-1 victory earlier that day, while Taylor Lara picked up her first win in the red and black on Wednesday. 

Stanislaus State is 5-2 to open the season and will be playing its first set of CCAA games this weekend. The Warriors were picked to finish eighth in the preseason coaches poll, one spot behind the Pioneers. Stanislaus has been a good offensive team, batting .324 as a group, led by Aliyah Garvin (.458 avg, 6 RBI), Alexus Martinez (.435 avg, 7 R), and Desiree Gonzalez (.412 avg, 6 R, 5 BB). Kylie Ragsdale is the team's top pitcher, boasting a 2.80 ERA in 20.0 innings. East Bay swept the Warriors in a four-game series when the teams met last year in Hayward.