Pioneer Softball Falls in Doubleheader Finale Against Warriors

TURLOCK, Calif., -- The Cal State East Bay softball team concluded their series against Stanislaus State with a doubleheader loss on Friday afternoon, March 1 at Warrior Softball Field.

Stan State was able to sweep the series 4-0 over East Bay after picking up the twin bill victory on Thursday. With the losses, the Pioneers move to 2-11 on the season with a 0-8 mark in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action.

In the opening game of the afternoon, the Pioneers were blanked 3-0 by the Warriors as CSUEB only registered four hits as a team. The game was scoreless through the first two innings as they teams traded groundouts and strikeouts.

Meghan Araneta (Foothill Ranch, Calif.), Emilie Portesi (Chino, Calif.), Madi Gerco (Prunedale, Calif.,) and Desiree Jimmy (Los Angeles, Calif.) all garnered one hit each for East Bay. Bailee Aguigui (Vacaville, Calif.) forced a walk and stole the Pioneers lone base of the ball game.

Araneta singled up the middle in the second inning for East Bay's first hit of the game. Jimmy singled down the right field line to start the top of the third and two at bats later Portesi singled to the shortstop. In the top of the sixth Greco singled to third base for the Pioneers final hit of the game.

Abby Burkholder (L, 0-2) (Sacramento, Calif.) got the start in the circle and tossed a complete game. Burkholder struck out one batter and allowed two earned runs.

In the final game of the series, the Pioneers fell behind early as the Warriors rattled off four opening inning runs. Stanislaus State added three more runs in the fourth to finish the afternoon with a 7-1 victory.

East Bay recorded five hits for the outing and scored one run in the top of the seventh to avoid their second consecutive scoreless game of the day.

Emilie Portesi, Madi Greco, Jocelyn Baldon (Chino Hills, Calif.), Maddie Ramirez (Chino Hills, Calif.) and Hailey Davis (Albany, Ore.) all compiled hits in the double header finale. Baldon also scored the Pioneers only run of the game after a Davis singled in the top of the seventh. Davis tallied a RBI for the afternoon.

Greco singled through the right side for East Bay's first hit of the final game. Portesi singled up the middle in the third inning with two outs on the board. Maddie Ramirez opened the fifth inning with a single up the middle.

Abby Greer (L, 1-6) (Beaverton, Ore.) got the start for the Pioneers and tossed 3.1 innings racking up a strikeout and five earned runs. Taylor Lara (La Puente, Calif.) came in for relief and did not allow any runs through 2.2 innings. Lara recorded one strikeout.

The Pioneers will return to action with a pair of non-conference games against Concordia University, Irvine on Tuesday, March 5.