March 14, 2009
Game 1
Game 2
SEASIDE, Calif. – With a 6-3 nightcap victory, the Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team defeated Sonoma State for the first time in the program's five-year history on Saturday. In 28 previous meetings, the Seawolves, who have been to the post season four times in the last six years, have dominated the series.
The Otters dropped game one, 8-5, at the Otter Baseball Field.
“That was a great win for the program and takes the biggest monkey off my back,” said Otters head coach
Rich Aldrete. “There was great senior leadership today and freshman #Thadd McAlpin# came in for the save.
“The coaching staff is very elated and proud of our guys for working hard and never giving up.”
The Seawolves jumped out to a 2-0 lead with two runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Ian Bridge's home run.
Freshman #Niko Kanakaris# led off the third inning with walk and senior #Daniel Barras# followed with a double to center field. Junior #Brent Sargenti# and senior #Shea Davis# each delivered sacrifice flies to plate Kanakaris and Barras, respectively, to tie the game at 2-2.
After junior #Jacob Flores# was hit by a pitch, Kanakaris followed with a full count RBI double to right center to break the tie. Barras singled to center field to bring Kanakaris across the plate to raise the Otters lead to 4-2.
CSUMB added two more insurance runs in the fifth inning. Junior #Jason Okamoto# and senior #Steve Mays# hit back-to-back singles and then advanced a base after Sonoma State's pitcher was called for a balk. Senior #Matt DeJesus# hit a two-RBI single down the middle.
The Seawolves attempted a comeback in the seventh inning when they loaded the bases with one out. Freshman pitcher #Austin Thiel# forced Danny Pignataro to fly out to second before walking in a run to cut the lead to 6-3. McAlpin took the mound for the Otters and forced pinch hitter Jacob Fiss to hit into a fielder's choice to end the game.
Senior starting pitcher #Brian Callen# pitched 5.0 innings, allowing only five hits and struck out two.
Sargenti and Barras led the Otters with two hits apiece in the 6-3 victory.
In the opener, Sonoma State took a 3-0 lead in the first inning and added another run in the third.
The Otters closed the gap with three runs in the bottom of the third on Davis's single and doubles by junior #Ryan Chagonjian# and Mays.
The Seawolves knocked in two runs in the fourth and the Otters added a run in their side of the frame on Barras's single through the left side.
CSUMB came within one run again in the sixth on Sargenti's single to left field.
Sonoma State clinched the game one victory with two runs in the seventh.
The Otters (6-23, 3-12 CCAA) return to the mound for the finale of the four-game series against the Seawolves on Sunday, March, 15. First pitch has been changed to 11 a.m.
