May 14, 2010
Box Score
KANEOHE, Hawaii – Junior #Diane Ortiz# threw her first collegiate no-hitter on Friday, leading Cal State Monterey Bay softball to their first NCAA postseason victory. The Otters recorded an 8-0 shutout over University of Hawaii at Hilo in the first round of the NCAA Division II West Region Tournament.
Junior #Nicole Garcia# crushed her first home run of the season as the Otters outhit the Vulcans 12-0.
“This was an exciting win for our first NCAA Regional victory and another first for CSUMB,” said head coach #Andrea Kenney#. “Ortiz was her usual amazing self while Garcia stepped up for us today.”
The Otters took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second on two hits and a UHH error. Sophomore #Jamie Moon# doubled to center and Ortiz was granted first after being hit by a pitch. Junior #Cat Sampson# laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners one base. Garcia singled to right field to score Moon. Freshman #Skyler Valdivia# pinch running for Ortiz, scored on an error by UHH's right fielder to give the Otters a 2-0 advantage.
CSUMB nabbed two more runs in the fourth inning. Sampson blasted a ball that was a foot shy of a home run off the left field wall and had to settle for a double. Garcia answered with her first home run of the year, sending the ball over the left field line.
The Otters bats remained hot in the fifth inning. With one out, Moon and Ortiz hit back-to-back singles. Sampson reached first on an error by UHH's third baseman, bringing Moon across the plate. Junior #Channing Peebles#'s 2 RBI single gave the Otters a 7-0 lead going into the top of the sixth.
UHH's first strikeout of the game came in the bottom of the sixth.
With one out, Ames doubled to right center and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Moon drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Ortiz hit the game-winning RBI single to end the game due to the eight-run mercy rule.
The Otters will face No. 3 Hawaii Pacific on Saturday at 2 p.m. (PST).
