HAYWARD, Calif. – Cal State East Bay erupted for five runs in the bottom of the fifth to claim a 6-3 victory over San Francisco State in the second game of a nonconference doubleheader Sunday at Pioneer Softball Field. With the win, East Bay completed the sweep after posting a 13-5 triumph in six innings in game one.

 

The Gators (15-28) struck first in the nightcap as Kendra Wood led off the second inning with her first home run of the season, before the Pioneers' Jamie Yaller answered with a solo shot of her own in the third.

 

SF State used the long ball in the fifth to take a 3-1 advantage as Kelly Mast blasted her second round-tripper of the year, plating Heather Jensen, who drew a one-out walk.

 

The lead was short-lived, however, as East Bay (19-22) went ahead to stay after collecting five markers in the bottom of the frame. After Emily Montanez doubled in Yaller, who previously walked, Taylor Neumann reached on an infield hit, while Sara Holdridge was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Devin Salmones then delivered a two-run single through the right side and advanced to second on the throw. Moments later, Holdridge and Salmones touched home on consecutive passed balls.

 

The Gators managed just one baserunner the rest of the way off Pioneer starter Kelly Lowe, who went the distance to even her record at 6-6 after giving up seven hits and four walks to go along with five strikeouts. Conversely, Ashley Jackson (9-13) absorbed the loss after allowing all six runs on seven hits and two walks in five innings.

 

Montanez went 3-for-4 at the plate for East Bay, while Jensen, Wood and Summer Powell finished with two hits apiece in the defeat.

 

SF State was also plagued by the big inning in the opener as the Pioneers exploded for six runs in the bottom of the first after the visitors plated a run in the top of the frame when Jensen, who singled and stole second, touched home on a throwing error. However, the host school responded by sending 10 batters to the plate in its first turn at bat, highlighted by Devon Mercurio's two-run double. 

 

Utilizing their recent power surge, the Gators crept back into contention, scoring four runs over the next three innings to trim the deficit to 6-5. After Mast homered to center field in the second, Powell followed with an RBI single in the third, while Jensen crushed a 1-1 pitch over the left-center field fence in the fourth, bringing in Kelly McDonald, who entered as a pinch-runner on a single by Cara Spence.

 

SF State's momentum was soon derailed, however, as the Pioneers answered with a big hit of their own courtesy of Montanez, whose two-run double in the bottom of the fifth provided the hosts an 8-5 cushion. Kassy Winger added to the Gators' despair with a three-run homer in the fifth, before the Pioneers added a pair of scores in the sixth to end the game in a run-rule triumph.

 

East Bay starter Talia Ferrari (9-7) earned the victory after giving up all five runs on nine hits and two walks in four innings, while Lowe pitched two scoreless frames to pick up her first save.  On the other hand, Gator starter Jordan Stanaland (3-5) was pulled after two outs in the first an inning, yielding to Marisa Ibarra, who stayed in the circle the rest of the way.

 

Jensen, Powell and Alyssa Esquibel had two hits apiece for the Purple and Gold, while Winger (three runs) and Montanez (3-for-4) finished with three RBI in the victory.

 

SF State, which played eight games in the last four days, returns to the field next weekend, April 15-16, when it takes on Humboldt State in its final home series of the 2011 campaign. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start, followed by another twin bill on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. Prior to Saturday's action, the Gators will recognize their seven seniors in Lea Cardenas, Alyssa Esquibel, Ashley Jackson, Rachael Kroneder, Kelly McDonald, Kelsey Wood and Kendra Wood.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score