HAYWARD, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay baseball team split its doubleheader with Stanislaus State on a cloudy Saturday at Pioneer Field, prevailing in the second game by a score of 7-5 after the Warriors pulled off a ninth-inning rally to win game one, 4-3. 

East Bay is now 7-10 with a 4-7 mark in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) games, looking to earn a series split with Stanislaus with a win in Sunday's finale. 

It was an up-and-down day for the Pioneers, who had two pitchers turn in outstanding performances, but no doubt left the field frustrated they didn't take both ends of the twinbill. 

The morning stared well, as the Pioneers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to an error by starting pitcher Tyler Murphy. In the second, singles by Matt Cantelme and Aaron Albaum and a sacrifice bunt by Colt Parshall set the table for CSUEB, then RBI hits by Evan Steele and Paul Bryniarski made it 3-0.

Staked with an early lead, senior right-hander RJ Hanson took over and carved up the Warrior lineup for seven innings. He struck out five and allowed just one run before exiting with one out, two runners on, and a 3-1 lead in the eighth. Southpaw Joey Portugal came in and struck out Jarrett Veiga with the tying runs in scoring position to preserve the advantage. 

The Pioneers were unable to add any insurance runs after the third inning, so their lead remained narrow into the ninth. Then just as they did Friday afternoon, the Warriors staged a game-winning rally in their final at-bat. Stanislaus tallied four hits off closer Andrew Fernandez and executed a successful squeeze bunt to plate the game-tying run, ultimately scoring three times to steal a 4-3 win.

Albaum led East Bay offensively with a 3-for-3 performance, while Bryniarski and Cantelme notched two hits each.

It appeared as though Saturday would be a disaster for CSUEB as the Warriors apparently carried their momentum into game two. Stanislaus got two hits off Pioneer starter Nick Risucci and took advantage of two walks and an error to snatch a 4-0 lead before East Bay came to bat.

But credit to the Pioneers, who refused to pack it in after suffering two straight heartbreaking losses and falling into an early hole in this contest. They showed impressive mental toughness, immediately rallying back with their biggest offensive inning of the series yet.

Adam Hollar reached on an error with one out to start things off, then Raymond Jones, Dey, and Nolan Jekich ripped three straight singles to cut CSUEB's deficit in half. That brought up Jacob Eder, who belted a two-run triple into the right-center gap to tie the game. Parshall followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Pioneers ahead 5-4.

Head coach Mike Cummins went to his bullpen quickly after getting a lead, turning again to Portugal. For the second straight game, the left-hander answered the call, and this time it was for more than one batter. 

After getting through the second inning, Portugal proceeded to hang four straight zeroes on the scoreboard. He had the Warriors off-balance all game, giving up just one hit and striking out three.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Pioneers got a couple much-needed insurance runs. With two outs and Dakota Conners at second, Dey blasted one into the trees beyond left field for his team-leading third homer of the season.

The senior finished 2-for-2 with a walk, three RBI, and a pair of runs scored. Jekich also had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a run.

Cummins gave freshman Mark Woinarowicz a shot at the save in the seventh inning. The right-hander allowed a run on three singles, but prevented the Warriors from yet another late comeback as he closed out the victory.

The CCAA series concludes with one more game at Pioneer Field on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 p.m.