February 27, 2011

SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball squad took No. 1 UC San Diego to the brink before splitting a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.  The Otters took game one, 8-7, before falling 4-3 in the series finale.

“This was a hard fought, tough series,” said head coach #Walt White#. “It is a bit disappointing to come up short on the back end of today's doubleheader, but this weekend is a big step forward for this program. I know we  earned the respect of UCSD and I believe we have a program that the Otter faithful can be proud of.”

The Otters finished their first conference weekend with a 2-2 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) record and 5-7 overall.  Top nationally ranked Tritons moved to 12-4 overall and 5-3 in league games.

Juniors #Danny Nelson# and #Jared DeCastro# led the Otters with four hits apiece.  Nelson finished the day with three doubles and three runs on top of batting in three runs. 

The Otters host Chico State next weekend for their second CCAA four-game series.

Game 1: CSUMB 8, UCSD 7
Box Score

After falling in yesterday's second game, the Tritons came out strong by scoring one run in the first inning and followed it up with three runs in the second.

The Otters tied the game at 4-4 in their side of the third inning, scoring on five hits.  Junior #Jace Fanner# led off with double to center and sophomore #Nolan Murray# laid down a bunt to put runners on the corners.  Senior #Greg Fujii# doubled to right center to plate Fanner.  Nelson singled and junior Randall Packard drew a walk to load the bases. DeCastro doubled to clear the bases.

Nelson hit a three-run double in the fourth inning to give the Otter their first lead of the game at 7-4. 

With two outs in the sixth, Nelson hit a double and scored on Packard's single up the middle to add an insurance run that the Otters would end up needing.

The Tritons battled back by scoring two runs in the seventh and a single run in the eighth.

Junior #Paul Brock# picked up his first save the season with two ground outs and game-ending strike out.  Sophomore #Jacob Crose# picked up his first win of the year after striking out three batters, walking one and allowing only four earned runs.

Game 2: UCSD 4, CSUMB 3
Box Score

The Otters took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run single up the middle by sophomore #Alex Mangubat#.  The Tritons answered in the next inning with one run off one hit.

UCSD took its first lead of the game in the fourth inning on Kellen Lee's two-run homer to left field.

CSUMB tied the game up at 3-3 in the fifth on Tyler Soto's sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Mangubat who reached on a fielder's choice.

After a sacrifice fly broke a 3-3 tie in the top of the seventh, and final, inning, Mangubat took a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a passed ball.  Sophomore #Tony Hernandez# followed with another walk and both runners advanced one base on another passed ball.  With no outs and runners on second and third, sophomore #Ronnie Fhurong# hit a shallow fly ball to right field that resulted in Mangubat being called out at a play at home plate. A third passed moved Hernandez, the tying run, to third. UCSD's pitcher Jeff Rauh struck out the next batter to earn the save and the Tritons the win.