ROHNERT PARK -- Alison Strycula delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning of game one and an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning of game two, both of which brought home the game-winning runs as the 24th-ranked Sonoma State softball team earned a pair of victories -- 2-1 and 4-3 -- to sweep a Saturday doubleheader against visiting Cal State East Bay in Rohnert Park. 

The Seawolves remain in second place in the CCAA standings at 12-3 (20-5 overall), just one half-game behind Cal State Monterey Bay (13-3) and one-half game ahead of third-place Humboldt State (12-4).

Amanda Llerena (13-2) once again put up CCAA Pitcher of the Week numbers in the four-game series against the Pioneers, including two wins in the pitching circle on Saturday.  Llerena, who has won the conference's top weekly pitching honor in each of the previous two weeks, went 3-0 this weekend with a 1.27 ERA, allowing just 14 hits, four runs and three walks, while striking out 15 in 22.0 innings of work.

Keeley Ray also had a huge weekend at the plate for the Seawolves, going 6 for 10 with three walks, two sacrifice bunts, two stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored -- she has reached base in all 25 games this season.  Ancia Purdy continued to put a fear in opposing teams, adding six hits, including her Division II-leading seventh triple of the season, with three stolen bases and four runs scored.  Amanda Rossetta also pounded out five hits, including a 3 for 5 day with a double and an RBI in Saturday's twinbill.

GAME 1: #24 Sonoma State 2, Cal State East Bay 1 (8 innings)

Reminiscent of game one on Friday, both Llerena and Sierra Clark found themselves in a pitcher's duel.  In fact, the two would hold their opponents scoreless through the first seven innings to force extras.

Finally, in the eighth inning, runs would be scored, but it would be the Pioneers to draw first blood on a solo home run by Ali Cerninara.  Down by a run, the Seawolves were able to load the bases with no outs, allowing Strycula to blast a shot to straight away center field that got to the wall, allowing the tying and winning runs in Ally Bryant and Holli Brown to score for the 2-1 walkoff victory.

Of the 14 combined hits by the two teams, no one had more than one hit in the contest on either team.  Llerena allowed six of the hits, striking out six.  Clark gave up eight hits and four walks, striking out four.

GAME 2:  #24 Sonoma State 4, Cal State East Bay 3

Similar to how Friday's game two got started, the Pioneers again scored three runs in the top half of the first inning to take a 3-0 lead off of Llerena, who got the second start of the day for SSU.  However, Llerena would settle down, allowing zero runs and just three CSUEB hits in the final six innings.

Meanwhile, the Seawolves slowly chipped away, scoring a run in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch that scored Taylor Batey.  Two more runs came across the plate in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3 on a sacrifice bunt by Rossetta that turned into two runs, thanks to a throwing error, allowing Purdy and Ray to score.  Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Strycula came up big again, singling into right field to score Rossetta for the game-winner.

The Seawolves had seven hits, two each by Purdy, Ray and Rossetta, the other coming off the bat of Strycula.  Llerena scattered six hits and three runs, striking out one.  CSUEB's Tatiana Beilstein (5-5) was tagged with the loss after coming on in relief of starter Emily Perlich in the bottom of the first inning.

Sonoma State will head to Arcata next weekend to face third-place Humboldt State in a four-game series starting Friday at 1:00 pm.