ARCATA, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay softball team opened their weekend series with a doubleheader sweep of Humboldt State on Saturday, March 23 at HSU Softball Field.
 
The Pioneers picked up both victories by a score of 9-2. Through both games, CSUEB tallied three home runs and 17 RBI. Cal State East Bay never trailed in either of the contests.
 
With back-to-back wins, East Bay improves to 5-20 on the season with a 3-15 mark in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action.
 
The Pioneers opened up the afternoon with stellar performances across the board capped off by a great opening game in the circle for Abby Greer (W, 3-10) (Beaverton, Calif.). Greer notched her fourth complete of the season with seven strikeouts while only allowing two runs and three walks from the Lumberjacks.
 
Meghan Araneta (Foothill Ranch, Calif.), reigning CSUEB Athlete of the Week, continued to punish pitches as she paced the Pioneers with three hits through four at bats with a run scored. Jennifer Palmares (Elk Grove, Calif.) also turned in a multi-hit campaign with two hits and an RBI.
 
Several Pioneers made their presence known in the ball game. Sophomore Maddie Ramirez (Chino Hills, Calif.) smacked a two-run homer in the third inning, her second home run of the season. Sarah Fukushima (Sacramento, Calif.) tallied a team-high three runs scored with two stolen bases and Bailee Aguigui (Vacaville, Calif.) also collected two runs after drawing two walks.
 
The freshman duo of Madi Greco (Prunedale, Calif.) and Hailey Davis (Albany, Ore.) both racked up two RBIs each for the Pioneers. Greco registered a hit and Davis added a double, fifth of the season. Sophomore Jackie Najera (Santa Ana, Calif.) compiled two runs, a double and an RBI.
 
Bailee Glover (Reno, Nev.) finished with a double and a run scored while Courtney Leyba (Huntington Beach, Calif.) also scored a run for East Bay.
 
The Pioneers kept the momentum pumping in the finale game of the afternoon, as they accumulated 11 more hits.
 
Maddie Ramirez and Emilie Portesi (Chino, Calif.) both cracked two run home run for East Bay. Ramirez' came in the fourth inning, giving her three on the season and homers in back-to-back games for the first time in her career. Portesi also blasted her third homer of the season in the sixth inning of play.
 
Ramirez finished the game with two hits, two RBI, two runs scored and a walk and Portesi added three RBI, two runs, two hits and a walk as well.
 
Madi Greco went a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Jennifer Palmares racked with two RBI and a hit. Jackie Najera finished with a double and a run scored.
 
Sarah Fukushima scored two runs after being hit by her 12th and 13th pitches on the season. She also recorded her team leading 27th hit of the year. Bailee Aguagui scored a run and drew a walk and Desiree Jimmy (Los Angeles, Calif.) tallied a RBI and also drew a walk.
 
Taylor Lara (W, 1-2) (La Puente, Calif.) registered her first win of the season as she led the Pioneers in the circle with two strikeouts through six innings. Abby Burkholder (Sacramento, Calif.) closed the final inning of action for the Pioneers and did not allow any runs, hits or walks.
 
East Bay will conclude their four game road series series against the Humboldt State with a doubleheader Sunday, March 24 at HSU Softball Field.