Softball team sinks against Otters
March 12, 2015
The Cal State East Bay women’s softball team went 1-3 over the weekend to the third ranked team in the country against the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters.
CSUEB is now 14-10 overall and 7-9 in CCAA conference contests while the third ranked Otters improved to 18-3 overall and 9-3 in conference competition at the halfway point in the season.
The Pioneers lost a close one in the first game of the series on Friday by a final of 2-1 with the entire scoring coming in the first inning. CSUMB sophomore infielder Madison Casto knocked in her teams only two runs on a double that scored junior outfielder Alexandria Avila and sophomore outfielder Courtney Varela.
Not to be outdone, CSUEB came back in the bottom half of the first frame and cut the lead in half. Pioneers junior outfielder Lauren Vestal drew a walk off of CSUMB senior pitcher Cori Reinhardt and senior outfielder Jaynie MacDonald laced a single to left field that made the score 2-1.
Both pitchers were in full control of the game after the first inning and neither team managed to score again. Reinhardt remained perfect and improved to 9-0 this season while CSUEB junior hurler Sierra Clark fell to 7-2 overall after the loss.
“We entered this season with no expectations,” CSUMB Head Coach Andrea Kenney said. “Anything we accomplish—be it team championships or individual awards—we’ll have to earn on the field.”
The second game on Friday resulted in yet another pitching duel that saw both teams held scoreless until the sixth inning. The Otters struck first in the top of the sixth inning when junior catcher Marielle Valdez scored on a Pioneers throwing error.
CSUEB came back in the bottom half of the sixth inning and exploded for five runs in the frame. MacDonald’s hot streak continued as she blasted her eighth homerun of the season on a deep fly to left field that scored junior outfielder Mia Ramirez.
Despite giving up two runs in the final inning Beilstein managed to close out the game and the Otters to secure the 5-3 victory. Beilstein improved to 4-4 overall and Otters junior pitcher Lindsey Clarkson fell to 5-3 overall after the loss. CSUEB senior infielder Alex Vela led the way offensively for the Pioneers as she amassed two hits, a run batted in, and scored once in the victory.
“I need to produce ground balls for my team,” Beilstein said. “My stress level was pretty high, I was really nervous but I just tried to calm myself down.”
The Clark and Reinhardt pitching rematch came in game three on Saturday and Reinhardt remained perfect for the Otters and improved to 10-0 after a 6-3 triumph over CSUEB.
Both pitchers went the distance again but the Pioneers just couldn’t muster up enough offense to overcome the powerful presence of Reinhardt on the mound. Clark tried to help her own cause and collected three hits in her four plate appearances for CSUEB in the three-run loss to the Otters.
“I would take those shots through the first and second base hole on the ground than I would line drive gap shots any day because you are making them hit your pitch,” Clark said. “My defense totally has my back so I never get shaken up on hits like that.”
The final game of the series was a blowout victory for the Otters 13-3 on Saturday. CSUMB pitcher Clarkson improved to 6-3 overall after the win and CSUEB senior pitcher Emily Perlich picked up the loss.
The game was tied at three after the third inning but the Otters scored ten runs in the final three innings that resulted in the blowout loss for the Pioneers. CSUMB’s Casto led the way for the Otters offensively and collected three hits and a walk in four at bats. Casto also drove in a run and scored once for CSUMB in the ten-run triumph.
Next up for CSUEB is a road trip to Rohnert Park and Seawolf Softball Field to take on CCAA conference foe the Sonoma State Seawolves who are 17-4 overall and 9-2 in conference play so far this season.
