BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2 GAME 1:  #18 Sonoma State 3, Cal State East Bay 2  --  Box Score
GAME 2:  #18 Sonoma State 5, Cal State East Bay 4 (9 innings)  --  Box Score

ROHNERT PARK -- Danielle D'Eccliss delivered the eventual game-winning RBI single in the sixth inning of game one and Ali Palermo blasted a mammoth game-tying grand slam in the sixth inning of game two before Ancia Purdy singled home the game-winning run three innings later, leading Sonoma State to a thrilling doubleheader sweep with 3-2 and 5-4 victories over Cal State East Bay on Saturday afternoon at the Seawolf Softball Field.

The Seawolves salvaged a split in the four-game series, improving to 14-7 overall and 7-5 in the CCAA.  The Pioneers fall to 6-12 (4-8 CCAA).

Watch the highlight of Palermo's game-tying grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning of game two here.

Sonoma State will continue its 14-game homestand next weekend as they play host to Cal State San Bernardino, starting with a doubleheader at Noon on Friday.

GAME 1:  #18 Sonoma State 3, Cal State East Bay 2  --  Box Score

The Seawolves got off to a quick start in the opener, getting a leadoff infield single by Purdy, who then went to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third by stealing the base before coming home on a single by Vanessa Currie.  However, the offense would fall silent until the sixth inning.

Meanwhile, the Pioneers knotted the game in the top of the third, thanks to three defensive errors by SSU.  Vika Kafoa opened the inning by reaching on a fielding error by Holli Brown at second base.  Allison Noble came in to pinch run for Kafoa and then got to third on a failed pickoff attempt by Sonoma catcher Keisi Chinen in which her errant throw sailed into right field.  Two batters later, Noble came home on a single by Taryn Thomas to tie the score at 1-1.  Another error would be committed in the inning, but it wouldn't come around to hurt the Seawolves.  The tie score wouldn't last long, though, as the Pioneers scored the go-ahead run in their next at bat in the fourth inning on a sacrifice fly by Sara Pacioni, scoring pinch runner Mandy Dale.

In the bottom of the sixth with one out, Megan Konieczka got hit by the pitch, then stole second and third bases during pinch hitter Ashley Vignola's at bat.  Vignola went on to pop out foul, but Konieczka scored when the next Seawolf batter, Hayley Condon, reached on a throwing error by first baseman Emily Montanez that would have ended the inning.  With the extended inning, Condon stole second, then moved to third on another infield single by Purdy.  D'Eccliss followed with the go-ahead RBI single through the left side, scoring Condon for the 3-2 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Samantha Lipperd (8-3) shut down the bottom of Cal State East Bay's lineup in order to earn her eighth win of the season.  She gave up two runs (one earned) on just three hits and didn't walk anyone, in addition to striking out six.  Offensively for Sonoma State, Purdy finished with a 3 for 4 effort from the plate, D'Eccliss went 2 for 3 with the game-winning RBI and Currie recorded two hits in two official at bats, also with an RBI.  Chinen had the other base hit in the ballgame for SSU.

Lauren Zweigle, who earned both victories in the circle for CSUEB on Friday, was tagged with the loss, falling to 5-6 this season.  She allowed eight hits, three runs (one earned) and two walks, striking out seven.

GAME 2:  #18 Sonoma State 5, Cal State East Bay 4 (9 innings)  --  Box Score

In the nightcap, Cal State East Bay pounded out four runs in the top of the second inning off of Sonoma State starter Amanda Llerena.  Sara Holdridge led off with a double and Dale, who entered the game as a pinch runner for Holdridge, scored on the next at bat when Emily Montanez singled to center field for the 1-0 lead.  Pacioni and Shaunna Purkey both came up and got hit by a Llerena pitch to load the bases.  Thomas followed with a bases-clearing triple to right field to give the visitors a 4-0 lead.

Down by four in the sixth, the Seawolves got some momentum going thanks to a couple of infield hits to open the inning.  Olivia Lucchese reached on a bunt single before Purdy got aboard on a single to the short stop.  D'Eccliss then singled up the middle, but Lucchese would hold at third base and Purdy at second, loading the bases for Palermo.  In the first pitch she saw, Palermo sent the ball into the atmosphere to tie the game at 4-4 with a grand slam (see highlight here).

Sonoma State loaded the bases again in the seventh with one out, but Zweigle, who came on in relief for CSUEB started Andi Andersen after Palermo's game-tying home run, retired pinch hitter Katy Bihl and Palermo to end the inning.  It was in the ninth inning that the Seawolves ended the game.  Holli Brown drew a leadoff walk, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lucchese.  That's when Purdy came up and lined the first pitch she saw up the middle, just trickling off the outstreatched glove of short stop Purkey, allowing Brown to score the winning run from second.

Purdy went 3 for 5 in the nightcap, totaling a 6 for 9 effort in Saturday's doubleheader.  Palermo went 2 for 4 with the grand slam in the sixth and Brown went 2 for 3, scoring the game-winner in the ninth.  Llerena improved to 6-4 with the victory, allowing just five hits in nine innings of work, striking out two.

Zweigle was the pitcher of record in all four CSUEB games on the weekend, falling to 5-7 with the pair of losses on Saturday.  She gave up five hits and a walk, in addition to the game-winning run in three-plus innings of work.  Andersen came up with the no decision as she gave up the tying runs on the grand slam by Palermo.