HAYWARD, Calif. - Cal State East Bay softball delivered a resilient performance on Friday at Pioneer Softball Field, bouncing back from an extra-inning loss to open the day's NCAA Division II West Regional play with a crucial elimination game win later in the day. The Pioneers dropped a tightly contested 2-1 eight-inning battle to Western Washington in the morning but responded with a 3-1 victory over Concordia University Irvine in the afternoon, staying alive in the postseason and setting up a rematch with the Vikings on Saturday.

Game One: Western Washington 2, Cal State East Bay 1 (8 innings)
In a classic pitcher's duel to start the day, Cal State East Bay rallied late but came up just short against top-seeded Western Washington.

The Vikings broke through in the top of the third after a hit batter and fielder's choice set the stage for a two-out RBI double by Maleah Andrews to make it 1-0. The Pioneers looked poised to tie the game in the third with runners on the corners, but a double play cut the rally short.

Cal State East Bay finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh when Jeslyn Cuellar launched a solo home run to left center — her fourth of the season — to even the score and ignite the home crowd. Amelia Morales followed with a pinch-hit single, but a double play ended the inning and sent the game to extras.

In the top of the eighth, Western Washington catcher Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez responded with a solo homer of her own to left field, which proved to be the game-winner. The Pioneers went down in order in the bottom half as the Vikings escaped with the win.Game Two (Elimination Game): Cal State East Bay 3, Concordia University Irvine 1
Needing a win to stay alive, the Pioneers came out strong and leaned on timely hitting and a complete game from Quintero to defeat Concordia.

Cal State East Bay struck first in the opening frame. With the bases loaded, Cynthia Carrillo delivered an RBI infield single to put the Pioneers ahead 1-0.

Concordia tied it in the bottom half after a triple and a single, but Cal State East Bay reclaimed the lead in the fourth.

After singles from Marissa Farias and Evyn Morriss, Ashlee Toy knocked a single to left and a fielding miscue allowed pinch runner Izzy Reyes to score. Garcia followed with a sacrifice fly to center to plate Morriss, making it 3-1.

Quintero kept the Golden Eagles off balance the rest of the way, scattering five hits and allowing just one run in seven innings while striking out six for her 20th win of the season.

• Cuellar, Toy, Carrillo and Morriss each had a pair of hits in game two.
• Quintero reached 20 wins on the season, the first Pioneer to do so since Sara Stas (26) in 2006. Quintero also combined for 10 strikeouts on the day and has surpassed 100 for the season.
• In three NCAA Regional games, Cuellar is 5-for-8 with a triple, home run, two runs and two RBIs.
• The Pioneers also reached 40 wins for the first time since 1992, when the team won 49 games and reached the 1992 NCAA Division II Championship game. 

The Pioneers will face Western Washington again on Saturday at noon in the NCAA Division II West Regional Championship. A Cal State East Bay win would force a decisive winner-take-all second game at 2:30 p.m. The winner of the regional advances to next week's NCAA Division II West Super Regional.