ST. GEORGE, Utah -- The Cal State East Bay softball team opened its 2019 schedule on Thursday in the desert with a pair of games on Day 1 of the Dixie State Courtyard Classic. The Pioneers found themselves on the losing end of both contests, falling to Chadron State in a 13-10 slugfest this afternoon, then dropping the nightcap to No. 21 Colorado Mesa by a final score of 14-1.

The first game of the day was an impressive offensive showing for East Bay, but it took them a little while to get going. Their opponents, however, jumped out of the gate with a crooked number in the first inning. A two-out, two-run double, followed by a two-run homer capped off a five-run inning for the Eagles off CSUEB ace Abby Greer.

Greer settled down after that and hung three straight zeroes on the scoreboard, but it wasn't until the fifth that East Bay's offense answered back. A two-run double by newcomer Jackie Najera plated Sarah Fukushima and Emilie Portesi to get the Pioneers on the board.

That was the beginning of an eventful final three frames. Chadron responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, tallying four singles and taking advantage of a pair of walks. Trailing 9-2, the Pioneer bats went back to work in the sixth. Portesi knocked in a run with a single, then after a walk, Maddie Ramirez cleared the bases with a three-run triple. Fukushima drove her in with a single, and when the Pioneers were finally retired, they trailed just 9-7.

Unfortunately, they weren't able to hold the Chadron offense down long enough to complete the comeback. The Eagles answered back once again, swatting two home runs in the bottom of the sixth and tacking on four more runs. East Bay got three back in the seventh as Desiree Jimmy led off with a double and scored on a two-out hit by Ramirez. Fukushima then plated a pair with a two-run double, and Najera walked to bring the tying run to the plate, but the rally ended there as Meghan Araneta grounded out to end the game.

The Pioneers racked up 13 hits in the opener, with Fukushima posting a 4-for-5 performance to lead the way. Jimmy and Portesi finished with two hits apiece, and Ramirez went 2-for-5 with a team-high four RBI.

After a short break, CSUEB was back on the diamond to take on a tough opponent in Colorado Mesa. The Mavericks are coming off a 2018 season in which they finished 48-5 and led the nation in team batting average, and based on today's results, they boast an impressive lineup once again in 2019.

CMU struck first with a run off Pioneer starter Bailee Glover in the top of the first, but the junior escaped a bases-loaded jam without allowing further damage.

Two innings later, the Mavericks blew it open by scoring six runs, four of which were unearned after a pair of costly errors. Mesa hung seven more runs on the board in the fourth, ripping three hits, drawing three walks, and taking advantage of three more defensive miscues. 

Freshman Abby Burkholder blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Her first career round-tripper got the Pioneers on the scoreboard, but ultimately didn't prevent CMU from winning by the eight-run rule as they wrapped up the five-inning contest.

Burkholder also made her collegiate debut in the circle, working two innings out of the bullpen. Senior Courtney Leyba led CSUEB offensively in the second game, finishing 2-for-3.

The Pioneers return to action with two more games at the Dixie Class on Friday. They take on Colorado State Pueblo at 11:30 a.m., followed by the host No. 17 Trailblazers at 2 p.m. (Pacific times).