HAYWARD, Calif. — No. 16 Cal State East Bay captured the 2026 CCAA Tournament Championship on Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field, defeating Cal State San Marcos 5-1 in the decisive second game to secure the program's first conference tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II West Regional.
It didn't come easy.
San Marcos forced the winner-take-all final with a 5-2 win in the opening game, using early offense and a three-run fifth inning to put East Bay in a must-win position.
With the championship on the line, the Pioneers delivered.
In the deciding game, East Bay settled in after surrendering a run in the first and began to take control in the middle innings. Jasmyn Morales tied the game with a solo home run in the fourth, resetting momentum and setting the stage for the defining moment of the day.
That moment came in the sixth.
Rylee Gomez gave East Bay its first lead with a solo home run, and Morales followed with another blast to extend the advantage. Reagan Hallett kept the inning going with a double, and Macie Mead delivered the biggest swing of the game — a two-run double that pushed the lead to 5-1 and put the Pioneers firmly in control.
From there, it belonged to Marissa Quintero.
In the biggest game of the season, Quintero delivered a complete-game performance, allowing just one run on seven hits while working through pressure situations and keeping a powerful San Marcos lineup in check. She stranded runners in key moments and closed out the final innings with composure to seal the championship.
The Pioneers finished with seven hits in the title-clinching win, with Morales leading the way with two hits and two RBIs. Gomez added two hits, including the go-ahead home run, while Mead's two-run double provided the separation.
Across the day, East Bay showed resilience and composure, bouncing back from the early loss to deliver its most complete performance when everything was on the line.
With the win, No. 16 Cal State East Bay improves to 41-15 and advances to the NCAA Division II West Regional, marking a historic milestone for the program.
