CARSON, Calif. - The No. 20 Cal State East Bay softball team secured two impressive victories in a doubleheader against No. 24 Cal State Dominguez Hills on Friday at Toro Diamond. The Pioneers edged out a 3-2 win in a thrilling first game before dominating the second with a 9-0 run-rule victory in five innings.
 

Game One: Cal State East Bay 3, CSUDH 2
In a tightly contested opener, the Pioneers overcame an early deficit to claim a hard-fought win. The Toros struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Mireya Rico launched a solo home run, giving the home team a 1-0 lead.

For six innings, East Bay's offense was held in check. However, the Pioneers' bats came alive in the crucial top of the seventh. Alexa Zumstein drew a leadoff walk, and Sarissa Block entered as a pinch runner. Marissa Farias followed with a single, and both runners advanced on Jeslyn Cuellar's sacrifice bunt. Jenna Porto then delivered in the clutch, driving in both Block and Farias with a single to give East Bay a 2-1 lead.

The Pioneers added an insurance run later in the inning when Gabriela Rivera singled to make it 3-1. That extra run proved vital as the Toros mounted a comeback attempt in the bottom of the seventh. With two outs and two runners on, Jay Ross singled to drive in a run, cutting East Bay's lead to 3-2. However, the Pioneers held on, securing the win on a flyout to center field.

Marissa Quintero was stellar in the circle for East Bay, tossing a complete game. She allowed just one earned run while striking out three to improve her record to 6-0 on the season.

Game One: Cal State East Bay 9, CSUDH 0 (5 innings)
The Pioneers' offense exploded in the second game of the day, securing a run-rule victory in five innings. After two scoreless frames, East Bay broke through in the top of the third. With the bases loaded and no outs, Zumstein drew a walk to force in the game's first run. Cuellar then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Annelise Garcia, and Cynthia Carrillo scored on the same play due to a throwing error, pushing the lead to 3-0.

East Bay's bats truly came alive in the fourth inning, as they erupted for six runs. Ashlee Toy started the onslaught with an RBI single. Garcia then crushed a two-run homer, and Cuellar followed with a three-run blast of her own, extending the Pioneers' advantage to 9-0.

The nine-run cushion was more than enough for Toy, who was dominant both at the plate and in the circle. She tossed five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out one to improve her record to 7-0 on the year.

• Ashlee Toy continued her stellar season both offensively and in the circle. She improved to 7-0 with a CCAA-leading 0.39 earned run average. At the plate, she is batting .413, tops among qualified Pioneer hitters and ninth in the CCAA. Toy tossed a five-inning shutout in game two, allowing just three hits and contributed an RBI single in the second game.
• Marissa Quintero pitched a complete game victory in the opener improving to 6-0 on the season as she allowed just one earned run in seven innings. Through Friday, she boasts a 1.29 ERA, fourth-lowest in the CCAA.
• Garcia hit her 20th career home run in game two.
• Cuellar set a career-high with four RBIs in the second game.

No. 20 Cal State East Bay: 14-1, 5-1 CCAA
No. 24 Cal State Dominguez Hills: 10-9, 1-5 CCAA
 

The No. 20 Pioneers will look to continue their spectacular start to the season when they face the No. 24 Toros in another doubleheader on Saturday, March 1. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Toro Diamond in Carson, California.