SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay softball team dropped both ends of their California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) opening doubleheader against Cal State San Marcos Friday afternoon, February 22 at SFSU Softball Field in San Francisco.
 
Due to unplayable conditions at Pioneer Field, the series as been moved to San Francisco State. The Pioneers had last week's series at Cal State San Bernardino was canceled due to heavy precipitation in the Inland Empire area. As such, this was CSUEB's first taste of conference action this season.
 
East Bay moves to 2-5 on the season with an 0-2 mark in league play after narrowly falling 3-2 to open the afternoon before dropping the doubleheader finale to San Marcos 9-4. For the Cougars, it was their first two wins od the season in CCAA play.
 
The first game of the series was a pitcher's duel as East Bay's Abby Greer (L, 1-3) (Beaverton, Ore.) and San Marcos' Ellie Smith both recorded three strikeouts through seven innings of action.
 
The Pioneers scored the first run of the ballgame after junior Emilie Portesi (Chino, Calif.) crossed the plate after a throwing error by the Cougar's right fielder in the bottom of the second inning. Portesi started the play with a single to right field, but after a mishandling of the ball by the Cougar's right fielder, Portesi rounded second base and headed for third. Then after an errant throw by the right fielder that headed for the Pioneer dugout, Portesi cruised in for the score. She finished the game with two hits, including a double with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
 
Jennifer Palmares (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Meghan Araneta (Foothill Ranch, Calif.) were the only other Pioneers to garner hits in the contest. Desire Jimmy (Los Angeles, Calif.) tallied an RBI and Maddie Ramirez (Chino Hills, Calif.) recorded her first stolen base of the season.
 
The Cougars took a 3-2 lead and sealed the game with a fifth inning with a two-run homer over the center field wall by Kammy Fisher.
 
The doubleheader finale started very similar to the opening game with a Pioneers scoring first. This time if was Jennifer Palmares who touched home plate first after a passed ball from the San Marcos' catcher. Palmares reached on a single to center field to open the innings. She scored two runs and added a hit for the game.
 
Portesi had another huge outing as she crushed a huge three-run homer over the left center field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning. For Portesi, it was her first home run of the 2019 season as she compiled three RBI, a hit and a run scored.
 
Sarah Fukushima (Sacramento, Calif.) led East Bay with two hits, including a double, her fourth of the season and a stolen base. Bailee Aguigui (Vacaville, Calif.) also scored a run.
 
Bailee Glover (L, 0-2) (Reno, Nev.) tossed all seven innings and notched one strikeout.
 
The Cougars scored seven combined runs through the third and fourth innings to pull away with the 9-4 victory.
 
East Bay and San Marcos will complete their series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at SFSU Softball Field with a 11:00 am first pitch.