Pioneer Softball Wins First Game of CCAA Championship Saturday, But Drops Final Game
SAN MARCOS, Calif. – As Cal State East Bay softball staved off elimination on Friday from the 2024 CCAA Tournament, the Pioneers advanced to Championship Saturday at CSUSM Softball Field. Needing a win in Saturday's first game, the Pioneers came through with a 4-2 win over Cal State San Marcos, setting up a winner-take-all rematch to follow. However, CSUSM won the second game of Championship Saturday to secure a 2024 CCAA Tournament Championship, defeating the Pioneers, 6-2.
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GAME SUMMARIES |
Game One – Cal State East Bay 4, CSUSM 2
The Cougars took an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Jillian Albayati delivered a two-run double.
CSUEB broke through in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, and two runners on base, Ashlee Toy reached base on an error, allowing Ysabella Cortez to score the first run of the day for the Pioneers.
After the error prolonged the top of the fifth, Cynthia Carrillo launched a three-run home run to center field, as the Pioneers led 4-2.
Without extra runs added in the next two innings for the Pioneers, CSUEB took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the seventh. The first two batters for CSUSM were retired, then Madison Waymire drew a walk. In the circle, Toy struck out the final batter of the game as Cal State East Bay won 4-2 to force a winner-take-all championship game.
- As a relief pitcher, Toy earned her 12th win of the season in the circle allowing no runs in 6.0 innings pitched, striking out two.
- Annelise Garcia went 2-for-4 in game one, scoring a run.
- Carrillo's home run was her sixth of the season.
- The Pioneers reached 29 wins for the first time since 2012, a season in which they won 31 games.
Although Cal State San Marcos was playing on its home field, the Pioneers were the designated home team for scoring purposes.
Waymire took a first pitch in the top of the first and hit a home run to center field giving the Cougars a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second with two outs, Sarissa Block singled, then Ysabella Cortez hit an RBI double to center field to even the game at 1-1.
CSUSM broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the third with a pair of runs, then added one more to the lead in the top of the sixth and two more in the top of the seventh as the Cougars took a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Pioneers were down to their final out when Carrillo reached on an error and advanced to second base. Then, Adriana Martinez hit an RBI single to drive in Carrillo. Another error kept the game going with two runners on base and trailing by four runs. However, a strikeout ended the game as the Cougars won the 2024 CCAA Softball Tournament for the first time in its program's history.
- Martinez, Block, Cortez and Jeslyn Cuellar had one hit each.
Following the tournament's conclusion, four Pioneers were named to the 2024 CCAA Softball All-Tournament Team, including Cuellar, Garcia, Toy and Marissa Quintero.
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UP NEXT FOR CAL STATE EAST BAY |
The Pioneers await the selections for the NCAA Division II Softball Regionals, which are expected to be announced this coming Monday. Cal State East Bay is currently 29-22 overall in making a case for a selection. The most recent NCAA Division II West Region poll had the Pioneers ranked No. 8. Should the Pioneers receive an at-large bid for the NCAA Division II West Regionals, EastBayPioneers.com will announce accordingly.
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