CARSON, Calif. -- The Cal State East Bay softball team suffered heartbreaking losses on both ends of its series-opening doubleheader on the road against Cal State Dominguez Hills Friday afternoon. 

The Pioneers erased a four-run deficit in game one before the Toros scored twice in the sixth to claim a 6-5 victory. CSUEB grabbed an early advantage in game two, but CSUDH rallied back to force extra innings, then completed the doubleheader sweep with a walk-off win in the ninth inning.

It was an impressive day overall for the East Bay offense as they tallied 18 hits in the twinbill and blasted five home runs, which accounted for all nine of their runs.

It took a few innings to get the bats going, however. The Pioneers went scoreless in each of the first two frames in the opener, then the Toros broke out with four runs in the bottom of the second, capped off by Demari Simon's two-run homer.

That appeared to wake up the Pioneers, as they immediately answered back in the third. Emilie Portesi ripped a one-out single up the middle, then Sarah Fukushima swatted an opposite field home run -- her fifth of the season -- to make the score 3-2.

It stayed that way until the fifth thanks to an excellent effort in the circle by Bailee Glover, who tossed three hitless, scoreless innings in relief of starter Taylor Lara.

Then in the top of the sixth, Fukushima and Maddie Ramirez opened the frame with singles. After a sacrifice bunt, senior Meghan Araneta blasted one over the center field fence for a three-run homer to give the Pioneers the lead.

Unfortunately, the Toros had answer as Glover finally ran into some trouble in the bottom of the inning. A single and two walks loaded the bases, then a two-run base hit up the middle by Jazmin Guzman gave the home team the lead right back. CSUDH held on for the one-run win after the Pioneers were unable to mount another rally in the seventh.

CSUEB was able to turn the page quickly over the game two. The early-going was all Pioneers as they got off to a great start. Freshman right-hander Abby Burkholder mowed down the Toros through the first five innings, hanging five straight zeroes on the scoreboard. then in the top of the second, senior Rachel Tadlock got the Pioneers on the scoreboard with a solo home run to left-center, her first of the season. 

The following inning, the visitors did even more damage. Fukushima drew a walk with two outs and the bases empty in the third, and Ramirez made it hurt by lifting an opposite field home run to right-center to make it 3-0 Pioneers. The next batter was Araneta, who worked the count full before blasting her second round-tripper of the day to left-center. It was the first time all season two CSUEB batters have hit back-to-back homers. 

The Pioneers were just six outs away from victory when their lead disappeared quickly. The Toros tallied five hits in the sixth inning and took advantage of a wild pitch, tying the score 4-4 and chasing Burkholder from the game. 

East Bay had a couple chances to re-take the lead, as Lara came in from the bullpen and held CSUDH off the scoreboard in the seventh and eighth innings. Unfortunately the Pioneers did not have a batter reach base after the sixth.

Lara got two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but the inning was extended on an infield error. The Toros proceeded to take advantage with two straight singles to bring the winning run home.

Fukushima and Ramirez both totaled four hits in the doubleheader, and Araneta led the team with four RBI thanks to her two dingers. 

The Pioneers will look to get in the win column in this series when they return to the field Saturday for another doubleheader against CSUDH starting at 11 a.m.