February 10, 2009
Box Score
SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team made a spirited comeback to defeat Northwest Nazarene, 16-8, in the opener of a three-game series at Otters Baseball Field on Tuesday. The Otters were down 6-1 going into the bottom of the third when their bats got hot and scored a season-high seven runs.
The Crusaders actually got on the scoreboard first, scoring four runs off four hits and one CSUMB error in the second inning. In the bottom of the frame, senior #Dan Barras# had a sacrifice bunt to drive in senior #Steve Mays# for the Otters first run of the game.
After the Crusaders added two more runs in the top of the third, the Otters took their first lead of the game while scoring seven runs in the bottom of the frame.
NNU's leadoff batter Ty Windall lined one down the right field line for a triple and came home on a sacrifice fly. Jon Keller took the ball long over the right center field wall to tie the game at 8-8.
In the sixth inning, Mays drove in the winning run on a single through the left side to score first baseman #Matt DeJesus#.
The Otters batted around in the seventh, scoring five runs on junior #Jason Okamoto#'s double and singles by juniors #Jake Flores# and #Brent Sargenti#. CSUMB added two more runs in its last at bat.
The run support would be plenty for CSUMB pitchers as freshman #Thadd McAlpin# (2.0 IP, 2 H, 2 SO) recorded the win and fellow classmate #Brock Meastas# (3.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO) picked up the save.
“The bats really woke up for us today, getting 18 hits and scoring 16 runs,” said Otters head coach Rich Aldrete. “We had some huge two-out base hits.”
“The freshman pitchers really stepped up today and kept us in the game as usual.”
Seven of the starting nine batters recorded multiple hits with Sargenti (3-5, 3B, SB, 2 RBI) leading the way with three.
Third baseman Joel Oliver (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and shortstop Boone Farrington (2-3, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI) had two hits each for Northwest Nazarene.
CSUMB and Northwest Nazarene continue its current series on Wednesday with a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.
