February 26, 2011

SEASIDE, Calif. - The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team earned a split with No. 1 UC San Diego on Saturday, Feb. 20.  The Otter fell 8-3 in the opener before rebounding with a 5-3 victory in the second game.

"It was a great win for our program to be able to beat the No. 1 team in the country," said head coach #Walt White#. "We don't give in and we keep fighting regardless of the situation."

The Otters are now 4-6 overall and 1-1 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) action.  The Tritons (11-3, 4-2 CCAA) picked up their second loss in conference play.

Senior #Greg Fujii# joined sophomores #Nolan Murray# and #Alex Mangubat# each had two hits on the day for the Otters.

Both teams racked up 11 hits in the two games combined.

"The win is another step in the tright direction for this program," White said. "Now  we need to rest up and get back after it tomorrow for two more."

The two teams return to the field at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 27 for a nine-innning game followed by a seven-inning game.

Game 1: UCSD 8, CSUMB 3
Box Score

The Tritons put up two runs in the second followed by single runs in both the third and fourth to take a 4-0 lead.

CSUMB came alive in the seventh inning, putting up two runs on three hits.  Murray starting things off with single down the left line.  Fujii drove him in with a triple to right center and scored on a groundout. 

UCSD posted three more runs in the top of the eighth on four hits that included two doubles.

After leading off the eighth with a double, freshman #Tyler Soto# scored on back-to-back groundouts to make it 7-3. 

The Tritons added one more run in the ninth.


Game 2: CSUMB 5, UCSD 2
Box Score

The Tritons once against took a quick lead in the early innings by posting two runs in the first and one run in the third inning.  

CSUMB came out with bats a blazing in the fifth inning.  Mangubat singled and junior #Tony Hernandez# drew a walk.  Sophomore #Ronnie Fhurong# singled to third to load the bases.  All runners moved on a passed ball and then advanced another base when Soto reached on an error.  Sophomore #Tyler Young# doubled down the left line, scoring Soto and Fhurong.  Sophomore #Danny Nelson# singled to the outfield to bring Young across the plate to put the Otters up 5-3.

Senior Scott Tully threw a complete game for the win, striking out four batters and walking three.

“Scott Tully was unbelievable today,” White said. “All he does is compete and he gives us a chance to win every time he goes out.”