CHICO, Calif. - The California State University San Bernardino softball team opened its weekend series at Chico State by splitting a CCAA doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

The Coyotes fell 2-1 in game one, before taking game two by a margin of 3-1.

With the split, Cal State San Bernardino moves to 7-4 overall on the season and 4-2 in CCAA action.

Game 1 - Chico State 2, Cal State San Bernardino 1

The first contest of the day was a pitchers' duel in its beginning stages, with the only early damage coming when Coyote sophomore catcher Sarah Moite (Fresno, Calif.) blasted a 2-1 fastball over the left field wall for her first collegiate home run, putting San Bernardino ahead 1-0.

Chico State answered back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring the only two runs they would need to claim the victory over the Coyotes. The Wildcats knotted the score on an RBI single from Mia Santos, before a bases loaded walk gave the hosts the lead for good.

Senior Shannon Galliano (San Mateo, Calif.) recorded CSUSB's lone multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a double from the leadoff spot, while junior Tereise Tosi (Garden Grove, Calif.) reached base safely on three occasions, going 1-for-2 with a pair of walks.

Junior pitcher Samantha Vargas (Grand Terrace, Calif.) looked sharp despite taking the loss. She threw 6.0 innings, allowing two earned on five hits with seven strikeouts.

Game 2 - Cal State San Bernardino 3, Chico State 1

For the second game in a row, the Coyotes took the early lead on a second inning long ball. Reigning CCAA Player of the Week Mia Escujuri (Chino Hills, Calif.) did the honors this time, sending a solo shot over the left field fence for a 1-0 CSUSB lead.

Chico State briefly knotted the score back up by scoring in the bottom of the third, but in the top of the fourth, the Yotes took the lead right back on an RBI single from Galliano, plating pinch runner Natalie Bednarz (Temecula, Calif.) from second.

The Wildcats threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning by loading the bases with two outs, but Vargas, who came on in relief of junior Brooke Blackmon (Exeter, Calif.) after five innings, induced a harmless flyout to left field to retire the side.

The Yotes added some insurance in the top of the seventh on the second RBI single of the game from Galliano, which scored senior Hayden Greene (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) and gave the visitors a 3-1 lead.

Galliano had a huge game two at the plate, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs in the win. For the second game in a row, Tosi reached base safely three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks.

Blackmon got the win for CSUSB, going five innings and allowing just one earned run on four hits. She improves to 3-2 overall on the season. Vargas, with two shutout innings in relief, was credited with the save.

The two teams will play games three and four of their series at Chico State with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch in game one of the twinbill is slated for 11 a.m.

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