HAYWARD, Calif. — No. 2 Cal State East Bay split its Saturday doubleheader with CSU Dominguez Hills at Pioneer Field, earning a 5-0 shutout in the opener before falling 7-5 in the finale. The Pioneers now stand at 21-3 overall and 3-1 in CCAA play.
In game one, Marissa Quintero once again set the tone in the circle. The right-hander went the distance, allowing just four hits while striking out three to improve to 15-0 on the season.
East Bay struck first in the bottom of the opening inning. Jeslyn Cuellar doubled to begin the frame and later crossed the plate on a groundout by Jasmyn Morales. Cynthia Carrillo added a single, and Isabel Mercado followed with an RBI knock to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Pioneers pushed another run across in the third, taking advantage of traffic on the bases to make it 3-0.
They created additional separation in the sixth. Jennavee Campos singled and Cuellar drew a walk ahead of Morales, who drove a two-run single into right center to stretch the advantage to 5-0.
Cuellar recorded two hits and scored twice, while Morales finished with three RBIs. Carrillo and Mercado also produced multi-hit efforts as East Bay totaled 11 hits in the shutout win.
The second contest began in contrast.
CSU Dominguez Hills jumped in front with three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run triple. East Bay chipped away in the second when Carrillo came around to score, trimming the deficit to 3-1.
In the fourth, Jenna Porto singled and later crossed home on a Toro miscue, bringing the Pioneers within one.
Dominguez Hills regained control in the seventh, piecing together several key hits to score four runs and move ahead 7-2.
East Bay rallied in the bottom half. Sarissa Block doubled to spark the surge, and consecutive RBI doubles from Cuellar and Rylee Gomez narrowed the margin. Carrillo added a sacrifice fly to make it 7-5, but the comeback stalled there.
Block finished the finale with two doubles, while Cuellar and Gomez each delivered run-scoring hits during the seventh-inning rally.
Cal State East Bay will look to carry momentum into next weekend as CCAA play continues.
