HAYWARD, Calif. - The No. 15 Cal State East Bay softball team showcased their dominance in a non-conference doubleheader sweep against Jessup on Friday at Pioneer Softball Field. The Pioneers secured a convincing 9-1 victory in five innings in the opener, followed by a hard-fought 6-4 win in the later game.
 

GAME SUMMARIES

Game One: Cal State East Bay 9, Jessup 1 (5 innings)
In the bottom of the second, East Bay capitalized on a Jessup error to take a 2-0 lead. With Alexa Zumstein and Marissa Farias on base, Ysabella Cortez singled, setting the stage for both runners to score on a defensive miscue.

The Pioneers' offense exploded in the third inning, pushing their advantage to 5-0. Ashlee Toy and Annelise Garcia led off with back-to-back hits, followed by Cynthia Carrillo's RBI double. Zumstein then delivered a two-run single to cap off the productive frame.

Jessup managed to get on the board in the top of the fourth courtesy of Sarah Giles' solo home run.

However, East Bay responded emphatically in the bottom half of the inning. Toy drove in a run with a double, and after Garcia singled, Carrillo launched a three-run homer to extend the lead to 9-1.

Jaidyn Gamble closed out the game with a clean fifth inning, securing the run-rule victory and improving her season record to 3-1. Gamble's complete game effort included three strikeouts.

Game Two: Cal State East Bay 6, Jessup 4
Friday's second game proved to be a more closely contested affair, with the Pioneers holding off a late Jessup rally to complete the sweep.

East Bay struck first in the opening frame when Ashlee Toy, who reached on an error and eventually advanced to third, scored on Cynthia Carrillo's RBI groundout. The Pioneers extended their lead to 4-0 in the second inning, capitalizing on timely hitting and aggressive baserunning. Annelise Garcia's RBI single drove in Marissa Frias, followed by Carrillo's sacrifice fly. A well-executed double steal allowed Toy to cross the plate for the second time.

The Pioneers' offense continued to produce in the fifth inning. Jeslyn Cuellar belted a solo home run, and Ashley Reyes came through with a pinch-hit RBI single to push the lead to 6-0.

Jessup mounted a comeback attempt in the late innings, scoring twice in the sixth and adding two more runs in the seventh. With two outs and the bases loaded, Liliana DeAnda's two-run double cut East Bay's lead to 6-4. However, Marissa Quintero remained composed, striking out the final batter to secure the complete game victory and improve her impressive season record to 8-0.

NOTABLE STATS

• Carrillo finished with six RBIs on the day, including a three-run homer in game one, which was her first of the season and ninth of her career.
• Cuellar finished with three hits in game two, including her third home run of the season for a total of seven in her career. 
• Jaidyn Gamble had a complete game victory in game one, allowing just one run with three strikeouts.
• Quintero had a complete game win in game two, striking out six over 7.0 innings in the circle to improve to 8-0 on the season.

RECORDS

No. 20 Cal State East Bay: 19-2
Jessup: 9-13
 

UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY

The No. 15 Cal State East Bay Pioneers will look to carry their momentum into a CCAA doubleheader against Cal State San Bernardino next Friday to start a four game series. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, March 14, at Pioneer Softball Field in Hayward, California.