SEASIDE --- Cal State Monterey Bay swept a doubleheader against San Francisco State on Saturday, coming back from a 4-1 deficit to win the first game 5-4 in the 10th inning and surviving a four-run rally in the ninth to win the second game 6-5.
Jeff Bernacil hit a leadoff double in the 10th inning and after the Gators walked two batters to load the bases, Jacob Flores squeezed a single through the right side of the infield to score Bernacil and win the game. Adam Lanthier earned the victory on the mound, pitching the last three innings and allowing just two hits.
Trailing 4-1 in the seventh, Matt DeJesus started the comeback when he singled to right field and then stole second base. Nolan Labrucherie, making his first appearance this season, smashed a double up the middle to score DeJesus and he would score later on an error by the second baseman, trying to field a ball off the bat of Shea Davis. The Otters tied the score in the eighth when Steve Mays hit a one-out double and Jeff Bernacil and Andrew Marquardt both followed with base hits.
Addis O'Connor started the game for the Otters and pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on five hits, though just three runs were earned. Greg Fisher relieved him and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Bernacil (3-4), Marquardt (2-4), DeJesus (2-5) and Labrucherie (2-4) all had multiple hits in the game.
The Otters gave starter Justin Aguilera an early 5-0 lead in the second game, which goes just seven innings in the CCAA, and he earned the victory, pitching five innings, allowing five hits and just one run. Already up 1-0, the Otters scored four runs in the third inning, two on a Marquardt single.
CSUMB added an insurance run in the sixth through hustle and it turned out to be crucial. Thomas Incivigila drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. He advanced to third on an error by the catcher and then scored on a groundball to second base by Bernacil.
After Charles Grosser pitched a scoreless sixth, Brian Callen came in to close the door, but the Gators hitters had it barred for a time. Callen gave up a leadoff double down the righfield line, then a walk and few more singles before striking out Evan Romanchuk for the final out, leaving a Gator standed on third base.
CSUMB (6-14, 4-7) will play SFSU (4-17, 1-10) on Sunday in San Francisco to end the four-game series.
