HAYWARD, Calif. — The Cal State East Bay softball team came up short in two close contests to begin its 2020 home campaign, falling to Cal State San Bernardino in Game 1, 6-2, before dropping Game 2, 4-2.

Senior Jennifer Palmares had a total of three hits on the day with an RBI and a run scored. Senior Sarah Fukushima had an RBI double, while junior Jeana Gonzales and senior Emilie Portesi also had run-scoring hits. 

CSUSB 6, CSUEB 2

The Pioneers rallied in the third inning to tie the score, 2-2, as Palmares singled through the left side to score Emily Yanke, before Fukushima drove home Palmares with an RBI double down the left-field line.

However, CSUSB (4-3, 2-0 CCAA) broke the tie in the top of the fourth and tacked on two insurance runs in the fifth.  

Senior Abby Greer pitched a complete game, allowing six earned runs while striking out four. Senior Bailee Glover, Gonzales and freshman Sydney Littles also recorded one hit apiece in Game 1.

CSUSB 4, CSUEB 2

Cal State East Bay (0-7, 0-2 CCAA) started off strong with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, but couldn't keep its momentum going.

Gonzales' RBI triple scored junior Jackie Najera, and an RBI double to right center by Portesi drove in Gonzales to put CSUEB on top 2-0. But similar to Game 1, Cal State San Bernardino responded with two runs in the fourth and two in the sixth to escape with the win.

Glover threw all seven innings in the Game 2, allowing three earned runs while striking out three.  

Saturday's doubleheader against Cal State San Bernardino is set to begin at 11 a.m.