HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay softball team continues its California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) schedule this weekend with its toughest test yet, as the Pioneers hit the road for a pair of doubleheaders against No. 8 ranked Chico State. 

The Pioneers will attempt to hand the undefeated Wildcats their first loss of 2018 starting at 12 p.m. Friday afternoon. The series concludes Saturday with two more games beginning at 11 a.m.

CSUEB has won six of its last eight, and is coming off series splits with defending champ Cal State Monterey Bay and Stanislaus State to open the conference schedule. It's a solid start to CCAA competition for the Pioneers, who are looking to earn their first postseason berth as members of the conference.

All four Pioneers pitchers have contributed strong performances so far this year, resulting in a 2.94 team ERA. Bailee Glover leads the team with three victories and a 2.45 ERA, while Abby Greer boasts two shutouts and a 2.82 ERA in a team-high 34.2 innings. Olivia McWhorter is 2-0 and after a tough start to the season, she has a 1.64 ERA over her last four outings. 

Offensively, sophomore Jennifer Palmares has been the Pioneers' top hitter with a .388 average, .464 on-base percentage, and 10 runs scored. Freshman Maddie Ramirez (.333 avg, 12 RBI, 7 extra base hits) has been a welcome addition. She tallied multiple hits and at least one RBI in all five games she started last week. Junior Courtney Leyba is also off to a productive start with a .256 average, 11 runs, 12 RBI, and seven extra base hits. 

Chico State swept Cal State San Bernardino and Cal State San Marcos in its first two CCAA series of the year, allowing just just five total runs in those eight games. The Wildcat pitching staff has been dominant, holding opponents to a .152 batting average led by reigning National Pitcher of the Week Haley Gilham (7-0, 0.63 ERA, 42 K).

Offensively, Chico State has been outstanding as well, batting .319 as a team with 17 home runs. Kristin Worley (.485 avg, 11-11 SB) and Ari Marsh (.402 avg) are on-base machines, while Bailey Akins (.333 avg, .476 obp, 5 HR, 10 RBI) and Karli Skowrup (.325 avg, 4 HR, 17 RBI) provide the power.

When the Pioneers and Wildcats met last season (on this same weekend at the end of February) in Chico, the home team prevailed in three of the four games in the series.