ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Sonoma State Softball team opened up a four game series with Cal State East Bay in a split of their Friday double-header, dropping game one 3-7 before rallying for a 7-4 victory in game two.
Game 1
Cal State East Bay put themselves on the board early and often in game one, taking a 2-0 lead in the second, and scoring in three of the following four innings. An RBI groundout by Jocelyn Baldon and an RBI single by Bailee Aguigui put East Bay up 2-0 before Maddie Ramirez came in to score in the third inning on a wild pitch.
However,
Karly Macadangdang was determined to pull her squad back into the game. With
Julie Davis standing at first, the Seawolf first baseman jumped on a 2-2 pitch belting it out to dead-center for her fourth home run of the season.
Despite pulling within one, East Bay continued to pile on, scoring a pair in the fourth inning as well as the sixth inning to take a 7-2 lead.
Alex Flores cut the deficit to four runs with an RBI double to left center in the bottom of the sixth, but the Seawolves would come no closer as the Pioneers closed out the 7-3 victory.
Game 2
The Seawolves fared much better in game two, riding a five-run fourth inning to a 7-4 win.
Sonoma State and Cal State East Bay exchanged runs in the first inning before the Pioneers took their second lead of the game in the third. With two on and one out, Sarah Fukushima tripled down the right field line, driving in two before coming home on the following play.
The Seawolves answered in the bottom of the frame as
Alee Balanon came in to score. The right fielder ripped the first pitch of the inning to left, legging out a triple.
Julie Davis then lofted the next pitch to center, tracking Desiree Jimmy back deep enough for the run to score, cutting the Pioneers lead to 4-2.
A throwing error by Pioneers third baseman, Jocelyn Baldon proved the difference in the game as Sonoma State capitalized heavily on the miscue in the fourth. With a runner on second and one out, Amaral hit a ball to third. Baldon gloved before throwing the ball away at first, allowing Amaral to reach and advance to second and Calcanyblair to come in and score. A single by
Alex Flores put runners at first and third with nobody out and on an attempted stolen base, Amaral found herself off the bag a third of the way down the line toward home. The Pioneers' catcher seceded the stolen base to Flores in an attempt to get the lead runner, but in a bizzare rundown, a relay throw hit Amaral in the helmet, ricocheting into the outfield and allowing her to come in and score as well as Flores who came in on her heels, taking a 5-4 lead. With the bases loaded,
Cameron Kirtlan opened up a three-run lead, driving in two with a single into the outfield.
The Seawolves would shut down the Pioneers over the final three innings, wrapping up their 7-4 win.
With the Friday afternoon split, the Seawolves move to 21-10 and 14-6 in CCAA play. They return to Seawolf Softball Field tomorrow at noon to wrap up the final two games of the four-game series.
