HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay softball returned home for the final regular season CCAA series of the 2022 campaign as they hosted Stanislaus State in a doubleheader. The Pioneers won game one 5-2 and lost game two 2-1. With the game one win, combined with other action in the CCAA on Friday, Cal State East Bay retains the sixth spot in the standings going into the final day of the regular season.
Game One – Cal State East Bay 5, Stanislaus State 2
The Warriors scored first in the top of the fourth inning on a Madison Flexser RBI double to center field that scored Katie Thornsberry for a 1-0 lead.
The Pioneers took a 2-1 lead the bottom of the fourth with both runs coming on an error that allowed Sarah Duran and Annelise Garcia to score.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Madeline Ramirez hit her fifth home run of the season which was a three-run shot for a 5-1 lead.
Although Stanislaus State got one run back in the top of the sixth on a Karli Dalbianco RBI double to center field, Abby Greer closed out the game to ensure a 5-2 win for the Pioneers.
Greer pitched a complete game in the circle, allowing two runs with five strikeouts for her eighth win of the season. Both Duran and Garcia went 2-for-3.
Game Two – Stanislaus State 2, Cal State East Bay 1
Ramirez drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single to drive in Sarah Fukushima in the bottom of the third inning.
The Warriors though scored a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning – one on a Melissa Spencer RBI double to center field that scored Sheridan Gulley and the go-ahead run on a Sidney Crippen-Lay RBI single to center field that scored Spencer.
Fukushima represented the tying run in the bottom of the fifth inning, and reached third base, but the Pioneers were unable to capitalize as Stanislaus State finished with a 2-1 win as the teams split Friday's doubleheader.
Fukushima went 3-for-3 in game two with a run scored.
Postgame Quotes
Cal State East Bay head coach Claire Sua-Amundson:
"In the first game I felt like offense did a good job attacking strikes and having quality at-bats as the game went. [Mademine Ramirez's] home run was really a clutch hit for us in keeping the momentum. Abby [Greer] did a good job keeping Stan State's offense to a minimum which is always good to see especially on senior weekend."
Sua-Amundson spoke about game two:
"During game two we just didn't get that timely hit we needed to break the game open which was disappointing. We have to be able to capitalize in those situations so we can let our pitchers work ahead."
Postseason Picture
With Friday's doubleheader split for CSUEB, combined with a split CCAA doubleheader on Friday between Cal State San Bernardino and San Francisco State, the Pioneers remain in sixth place with an opportunity to secure a berth on Saturday to qualify for the 2022 CCAA Championships. Below are the simplest scenarios that would put the Pioneers in the tournament.
- Cal State East Bay clinches with a doubleheader sweep on Saturday.
- Cal State East Bay clinches with one win and SF State wins at least one game on Saturday against CSUSB.
Other clinching scenarios may be available, but the two listed above are the simplest.
The Pioneers will finish up their regular season schedule on Saturday with a home doubleheader against the Warriors. First pitch is set for noon in game one, followed by game two at 2 p.m. Also, a senior ceremony will take place before the doubleheader.
