HAYWARD, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay softball team will step away from California Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAA) action for a two-game midweek series against the visiting Dixie State Trailblazers. The doubleheader will be held Wednesday, April 4 at Pioneer Softball Field with the opening pitch set to take place at noon.
 
The Pioneers are currently 15-24 after splitting their series 2-2 against #23 Sonoma State on the road in Rohnert Park.
 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Junior Bailee Glover (W, 7-7) (Reno, Nev.) picked up the complete-game win over nationally ranked SSU. Glover was backed by a Pioneer defense that didn't record an error and an offense that scored runs in the second, third, fourth and sixth innings.
 
Freshman Bailee Aguigui (Vacaville, Calif.) paced CSUEB with a team best three hits to go along with two runs scored and a RBI. Aguigui's three hits set a new career high mark.
 
Fellow freshman Maddie Ramirez (Chino Hills, Calif.) also logged a multi-hit performance with two hits and a RBI. Sophomore Sarah Fukushima (Sacramento, Calif.) tallied a team-high two RBI with a hit and a run scored.
 
Courtney Leyba (Huntington Beach) logged a hit, a run and a RBI and Desiree Jimmy (Los Angeles, Calif.) finished with a double and run scored. Jocelyn Baldon (Chino Hills, Calif.) scored a run and picked up a RBI and Jennifer Palmares (Elk Grove, Calif.) also notched a run scored.
 
The Pioneers would secure a, 7-3 victory in the doubleheader opener.
 
In the doubleheader finale saw the winning squad put up seven runs but not in favor of the Pioneers. Despite the outcome the Pioneers held a, 4-2 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning. Sonoma State exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
Sarah Fukushima registered a triple, with three RBI and a run scored while Jennifer Palmares logged a hit and a run scored. Courtney Leyba and Maddie Ramirez both crossed home plate for East Bay. Rachel Tadlock (Woodland, Calif.) also chipped in a RBI.
 
Olivia McWhorter (L, 2-7) (Cypress, Calif.) walked two batters through 3.2 innings tossed. Taylor Lara (La Puente, Calif.) didn't allow any runs nor walks through 2.1 innings.
 
The opening game of the day saw both squads battle into extra innings before CSUEB freshman Maddie Ramirez (Chino Hills, Calif.) knocked in a RBI single to bring home fellow freshman Bailee Aguigui (Vacaville, Calif.) to claim a 2-1 victory. Ramirez finished with a hit and RBI and Aguigui chipped in with a hit and a run scored.
 
Junior Bailee Glover (W, 8-7) (Reno, Nev.) tossed her second complete game win of the series. Glover fell one strikeout shy of tying her career best mark with five punchouts on Saturday.
 
Sophomore Jennifer Palmares (Elk Grove, Calif.) paced the Pioneers with three hits, including a double and a triple. Sophomore Emilie Portesi (Chino, Calif.) logged a double in her only at bat of the afternoon.
 
Freshman Jocelyn Baldon (Chino Hills, Calif.) added a hit and a RBI and Sarah Fukushima scored a run for East Bay.
 
In the series finale, the Pioneers tallied seven hits for the second consecutive game although this time as CSUEB fell, 2-4 to the Seawolves.
 
A trio of East Bay student-athletes notched multi-hit performances in the final game of the doubleheader.
 
Jennifer Palmares compiled two hits and a run while Junior Meghan Araneta (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) tallied two hits in her three at bats. Bailee Aguigui also had two hits in her three trips to the plate.
 
Junior Courtney Leyba (Huntington Beach, Calif.) logged a triple, a RBI and a run scored. Maddie Ramirez recorded a RBI on a sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth inning to score Leyba.
 
Abby Greer (L, 5-11) (Beaverton, Ore.) got the start in the circle for Cal State East Bay and struck out three batters while only allowing one walk through 4.1 innings tossed. Taylor Lara (La Puente, Calif.) saw 1.2 innings of relief action and did not allow any runs scored by Sonoma State.
 
PIONEER POINTS
Offensively, sophomore Jennifer Palmares is leads the Pioneers with a .331 average, .400 on-base percentage, 27 runs scored and leads the CCAA with 15 doubles. Fellow sophomore Sarah Fukushima (.301 avg, 23 RBI, 10 extra base hits) has been a consistent bat for the Pioneers as she is tied for the team lead with one home run. Junior Courtney Leyba is also off to a productive start with a .298 average, 24 runs, 24 RBI, and 10 extra base hits including a conference leading five triples.
 
Leyba was CSUEB Female Player of the Week, last week after she had a huge week in Turlock to earn a spot on the All-Tournament of Champions Team. She had a career day in Friday's doubleheader, going 6-for-7 with a double, triple, five RBI, three runs, and two stolen bases as the Pioneers defeated NDNU and Holy Names. She was also solid in Sunday's doubleheader, leading the team with three hits. For the weekend, Leyba posted a .529 batting average as the Pioneers posted a 2-3 tournament record.
 
All four Pioneers pitchers have contributed strong performances so far this year, resulting in a 3.25 team ERA. Bailee Glover leads East Bay with seven victories and a 2.85 ERA, while Abby Greer boasts three shutouts, 10 complete games and a 2.85 ERA in a team-high 100.2 innings. Olivia McWhorter is 2-7 and has four complete games, she has a 3.61 ERA so far on the season.
 
SCOUTING DIXIE STATE
The Dixie State Trailblazers are ranked #5 in the nation and are 26-4 with a 12-4 mark in conference action on the season splitting their doubleheader against Biola in PACWEST play. Janessa Bassett leads the Trailblazers with a .400 batting average, seven home runs, a .875 slugging percentage and 39 hits. Cambrie Hazel leads Dixie State with a 1.18 ERA and an 11-2 record with seven complete games, four shutouts, three saves and 78 strikeouts.