SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Cal State East Bay softball, having not lost a 2024 CCAA Tournament game entering Friday's action, lost its first game of the day, 4-1 to Cal State San Marcos. But since the loss was the Pioneers' first of the tournament, they had a chance for redemption in an elimination game that followed. And with an 8-1 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in an elimination game, the Pioneers advanced to CCAA Championship Saturday. It will be the first CCAA Championship game(s) the Pioneers have reached in program history.
Game One – Cal State San Marcos 4, Cal State East Bay 1
Although Cal State San Marcos played on its home field, the Cougars were designated as the road team.
An infield RBI single in the top of the first put the Cougars ahead 1-0.
Annelise Garcia led off the bottom of the first with a single, advanced to second base on a sarifice bunt, and reached third base after a single from
Cynthia Carrillo. Garcia scored the tying run when hit a sacrifice fly RBI foulout, allowing Garcia to score to even the game at 1-1.
The next five innings were scoreless, then in the top of the seventh, an RBI single from Paige Donnelly broke the tie, then two more runs were added to the lead on a two-run double from Madison Waymire for a 4-1 lead.
The Pioneers had two runners on base in the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to rally as CSUSM took Saturday's first game, 4-1.
Game Two – Cal State East Bay 8, Cal State Dominguez Hills 1
The Toros took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning.
Garcia hit an RBI triple in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at 1-1. Then, the tie was broken when on the following at-bat, Toy delivered an RBI single to drive in Garcia.
The Pioneers finished with eighth runs in the bottom of the third. Already ahead 2-1,
Jeslyn Cuellar hit an RBI single,
Serena Cadena drove in two runs on a pinch hit single,
Ysabella Cortez hit an RBI double and
Gabriela Rivera capped off the rally with a single for a pair of RBIs to lead 8-1.
In the final four innings, Toy pitched spectacularly, keeping the Toros scoreless the remainder of the game, as she finished with a complete game win. The Pioneers defeated CSUDH, 8-1 and advanced to CCAA Championship Saturday.
- Cortez and Rivera had two hits each.
- Toy pitched 7.0 innings in the circle allowing no earned runs and striking out four.
|
|
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE |
|
|
UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
CCAA Championship Saturday takes place at CSUSM Softball Field. The first game is set for 11 a.m. as the Pioneers meet Cal State San Marcos. Just for the Pioneers, Saturday's first game is an elimination game. If CSUEB wins game one, the Pioneers and Cougars will meet again approximately 30 minutes following Saturday's first game for the ultimate CCAA Tournament Championship game.
