Box Score

TURLOCK, Calif. -- The Cal State East bay softball team fell victim to a late rally by Hawaii Hilo, losing 6-5 to the Vulcans in CSUEB's only game of a rainy Saturday at the annual Tournament of Champions. 

The Pioneers were two scoreless innings into their scheduled game against Azusa Pacific early in the afternoon when a lightning delay suspended play. Before they could resume, a downpour hit. The time required to work on the fields required a schedule change, and several games were cancelled. APU was scheduled to travel home, so the game was scrapped and the two innings washed out. 

East Bay was back on the field to take on Hawaii Hilo at 5:45 p.m. in a game that was originally scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

The momentum was all in the CSUEB dugout early in the contest, as the Pioneers jumped out to a quick lead. Sarah Fukushima knocked in Jennifer Palmares with a double in the left-center gap to make it 1-0 in the first, and then a single by Desiree Jimmy and a double by Belle Placencia doubled the East Bay lead in the second.

Abby Greer was excellent in the circle to start the contest, tossing four straight scoreless frames. Leading 2-0 in the fifth, she finally got into some trouble. Two walks and an infield single loaded the bases, then a double down the left field line tied the game. Two batters later, another infield hit brought home the go-ahead run for the Vulcans.

But the Pioneers answered back with a three-run rally of their own in the sixth. Jimmy singled to lead things off, and then with two outs, hits by Bailee Aguigui, Palmares, and Maddie Ramirez gave CSUEB the lead back at 5-3.

Unfortunately, the advantage was short-lived as the Hilo bats remained hot. A single and a double to start the inning quickly cut East Bay's lead to one. Then with two outs, a walk followed by a two-run double put the Vulcans back ahead.

The Pioneers didn't have another rally in them, as they were retired in order in the seventh. They tallied 10 hits in the game, with Fukushima, Jimmy, Placencia, and Aguigui notching two each. Greer's record drops top 5-1 with the loss, while the team's overall mark falls to 13-20. 

CSUEB plays two more games on Sunday to close out the Tournament of Champions, taking on Hawaii Pacific at 2:00 p.m., followed by Western Washington at 4:30 p.m.