LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. — No. 17 Cal State East Bay turned in a dominant-and-dramatic Friday at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park on the first day of the 2026 D2 West Coast Challenge, run-ruling No. 3 Western Washington 17-1 in five innings before rallying late to defeat Azusa Pacific 7-6. Marissa Quintero highlighted the day by tossing the fourth no-hitter of her career in the opener, and East Bay's win over Western Washington avenged its season-ending loss to the Vikings in the 2025 NCAA Division II West Regional. The Pioneers improved to 6-1 with the sweep.
Game One: No. 17 Cal State East Bay 17, No. 3 Western Washington 1 (5 innings)
Cal State East Bay wasted little time jumping in front in the top of the first inning. With one out, Jenna Porto and Rylee Gomez singled back-to-back before a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. Jasmyn Morales drove them in with a single up the middle for a 2-0 lead, then advanced to second on the throw, stole third base and scored when Cynthia Carrillo beat out an infield single to make it 3-0.
The Pioneers added on in the second inning when Gomez launched a two-run home run, her first as a Pioneer, to extend the lead to 5-0. East Bay continued to build separation in the third as Jennavee Campos and Carrillo scored on a failed pickoff attempt, and Gomez followed with an RBI single to push the advantage to 8-0.
After Carrillo singled with one out in the fourth inning, Marissa Farias connected on her first home run of the season and the third of her career, giving East Bay a 10-0 cushion.
The decisive blow came in the top of the fifth. Morales knocked in a run with a single, Farias drew a bases-loaded walk, Campos lined a two-run double and Sarissa Block followed with a two-run double. Jeslyn Cuellar capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI single, making it 17-0.
Western Washington reached in the bottom of the fifth on an error and a walk, and a fielder's choice combined with a throwing error allowed the Vikings to score their lone run without recording a hit. Quintero fittingly played a groundout to end the game, completing the five-inning no-hitter with nine strikeouts and sealing the 17-1 run-rule victory.
Quintero improved to 4-0 on the season with a 0.34 earned run average. She has allowed just one earned run in 20.1 innings, holding opponents to a .090 batting average, the lowest mark in the CCAA through Friday.
Game Two: No. 17 Cal State East Bay 7, Azusa Pacific 6
Azusa Pacific jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on multiple East Bay errors before a three-run home run gave the Cougars a 5-0 advantage.
The Pioneers got on the board in the top of the third inning when Macie Mead led off with a home run.
After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, East Bay mounted a rally in the top of the sixth. Porto reached base, Gomez doubled and Morales drew a walk to load the bases with one out. Carrillo brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, and pinch hitter Ava Benavides delivered a clutch two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-4.
The Cougars answered in the bottom of the sixth when Julia Doan hit an RBI triple, restoring a two-run lead at 6-4 heading into the final inning.
Facing its last chance in the top of the seventh, East Bay responded. Block was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Cuellar followed with a single. Porto laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Gomez hit a deep fly ball to the left-field warning track, allowing Block to score. With the tying run still on base, Morales worked the count and then launched a two-run home run to give the Pioneers a 7-6 lead.
Jaidyn Gamble retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh to close out the comeback. Gamble went the distance in the circle, allowing no earned runs as East Bay completed the sweep. Gamble pitched a complete game in the nightcap, with all six Azusa Pacific runs unearned, lowering her ERA to 2.67.
Cuellar totaled six hits across the two games, while Morales finished the day with five RBIs.
East Bay's 17 runs in the opener marked the most scored by the program in a single game during the CCAA era.
Cal State East Bay continues play at the D2 West Coast Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 7, returning to Rosetta Canyon Sports Park to face Biola at 11:30 a.m. before closing the day against Western New Mexico at 4:30 p.m.
