SAN FRANCISCO — No. 13 Cal State East Bay softball and No. 21 San Francisco State split a Friday afternoon doubleheader at SFSU Softball Field, with the Pioneers rolling to a five-inning 8-0 win in game one before the Gators rallied in extra innings to take game two, 6-5. Highlighted by a dominant start from Marissa Quintero in the opener and Gabriela Rivera's first career home run in game two, the day featured stellar performances from both sides in this pivotal CCAA doubleheader.
Game One: Cal State East Bay 8, SF State 0 (5 innings)
The Pioneers wasted no time in the opener, exploding for six runs in the top of the first and cruising behind a complete game shutout from Quintero, who allowed just four hits and struck out three.
Ashlee Toy and Annelise Garcia opened the game with back-to-back hits, and Cynthia Carrillo drove them both home with a two-run double to right. After an RBI fielder's choice and a wild pitch made it 3-0, Marissa Farias launched a two-run homer down the left field line to stretch the lead to 5-0. Jeslyn Cuellar followed with a double, and she scored on an error to make it 6-0.
The Pioneers tacked on single runs in the fourth and fifth innings. In the fourth, Garcia advanced to third on a single and wild pitch before scoring on a fielding error. In the fifth, Ysabella Cortez doubled and scored on a two-out RBI single by Toy to push the lead to 8-0.
Quintero faced just 24 batters over five innings and stranded multiple runners in scoring position to seal Cal State East Bay's fifth run-rule victory of the season.
Game Two: SF State 6, Cal State East Bay 5 (8 innings)
The Pioneers fell behind 2-0 in the first inning, but got one run back in the top of the fourth. The bases were loaded with one out. Jenna Porto grounded into a fielder's choice RBI as Carrillo scored East Bay's first run of the game.
After trailing 2-1 entering the seventh, the Pioneers rallied for two runs. Cynthia Carrillo's sacrifice fly tied the game at 2-2, and Alexa Zumstein followed with an RBI single to give East Bay a 3-2 lead.
However, the Gators tied it in the bottom of the seventh at 3-3 on an RBI fielder's choice by Marissa Jordan to force extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, Jeslyn Cuellar singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Cortez. Rivera then launched her first career home run to left field, giving the Pioneers a 5-3 lead.
But the Gators responded with five straight hits off reliever Quintero in the bottom of the eighth. Lexi Holihan and Liana Gonzalez started the rally with singles, and Marley Gonzales followed with another to load the bases. Ashley Rocha singled home one run, and Daniella Guerrera sealed the walk-off win with a two-run single down the third base line for a 6-5 win.
- Cal State East Bay's win in game one was its fifth run-rule victory of the season.
- Gabriela Rivera hit her first career home run in game two.
- Marissa Quintero (1.48 ERA) and Ashlee Toy (1.53 ERA) continue to hold the two lowest qualifying ERAs in the CCAA.
- With one hit in each game on Saturday, Jenna Porto is on a seven-game hitting streak.
- Annelise Garcia went a combined 4-for-8 on the day.
- Rivera had three hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored across both games.
- Cortez collected four hits and scored twice over the doubleheader.
- Toy started in the circle in game two and went seven innings, striking out seven while allowing three runs on eight hits.
No. 13 Cal State East Bay: 32-9, 20-8 CCAA
No. 21 San Francisco State: 28-14, 15-11 CCAA
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
Cal State East Bay returns home for its final regular season home series, hosting Chico State in a CCAA doubleheader on Friday, April 18 to open the series. First pitch for game one at Pioneer Softball Field is set for 1 p.m., followed by game two at 3 p.m.
