SEASIDE --- Aided by a great pitching performance from starter #Daniel Bifano# and an opportunistic offense, Cal State Monterey Bay was able to split a doubleheader with CSU Dominguez Hills on Friday.

The Otters won the first game 3-2 by scoring three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth off Dominguez Hill's Bret Montgomery. Trailing 1-0, Shea Davis started the inning with a base hit. After #Jeff Bernacil# was hit by a pitch, #Steve Mays# walked to load the bases. Davis would then score on a passed ball and two pitches later, Toros first baseman Jon Alia committed an error on an easy grounder from #Matt DeJesus#, allowing Mays and Bernacil to score the decisive runs.

#Brian Callen# came in to close the game in the eighth after CSUDH scored its second run. Dominguez Hills stranded 10 runners in the first, rain-delayed game.

“It was all about pitching,” said CSUMB head coach Rich Aldrete. “Bifano set the tone and Callen came in and closed the door.”

The Otters fell 9-6 in the second game, despite solid efforts from Justin Rios (3-4, 2R, 2RBIs) and Andrew Marquardt (2-4, 1RBI). CSUMB's starter Justin Aguilera struggled to get out of the fourth inning, allowing CSUDH to score three runs on four hits.

The Otters were hurt most by Dominguez Hills 5-9 hitters who all had at least two hits, a run and an RBI. Dominguez Hills' winning pitcher Jeff Phillips held the Otters to only one run after coming in during the fourth inning.

#Addis OConnor# and #Patrick McClain# will pitch for the Otters Saturday in the now scheduled doubleheader set to start to 10 a.m.