March 19, 2011

SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team recorded three victories Saturday over No. 6 Sonoma State, concluding Friday's postponed game and today's scheduled doubleheader. The Otters held onto a 5-3 victory in the series opener. It took CSUMB 13 innings to nab a 4-3 win in the first game of the doubleheader.   The teams were able to squeeze in a 7-inning game with the Otters coming out on top 2-1.

“It is a great day to be an Otter,” said head coach #Walt White#. “We pitched well all day and got timely hitting by a number of guys.  Jacob Crose, Aaron Appino, and Jake Paolinetti were amazing on the mound today.”

The Otters improve to 11-12 overall and 8-7 in California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play.   CSUMB is 6-5 against Top 10 nationally ranked teams, taking two games off then No. 1 UC San Diego and one game from then No. 9 Chico State earlier this year.

“We continue to get better as a program,” White said. “When you believe in each other, prepare the right way, and come to play with the right attitude and mind set these days are possible.  Our team believes in each other and they keep grinding regardless of the situation.”

In 26 innings of play, junior #Jared DeCastro# led the Otters by going 7-for-13 (.538) with two doubles.  Junior #Danny Nelson# went 6-for-10 with a double will batting in four runs.

Right-hander submarine pitcher #Jake Paolinetti# recorded two wins in relief while #Aaron Appino# threw a complete 7-inning game for his first victory of the season.

“Sonoma State is a great team and a well coached team,” White said. “For us to come out, execute and perform the way we did, I couldn't be more proud.”

The Otters conclude the series with Sonoma State at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 21.


Game 1: CSUMB 5, SSU 3
Box Score

CSUMB and Sonoma State picked up the series opener in the top of the fourth inning after play was halted due to rain on Friday. The Otters took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on back-to-back singles by Nelson and DeCastro.

Sonoma State took a 3-2 lead in the top of the fifth on three hits. Alex Todd scored on a ground out after leading the inning off with a single. Kyle Cerrudo followed with a two-run homer to put the Seawolves on top.

The Otters evened the score at three in the seventh on Nelson's single that plated George.

Sophomore #Ronnie Fhurong# hit game-winning single to score sophomore #Alex Mangubat# in the bottom of the eighth.

In three innings, senior #Scott Tully# stuck out two batters and walked one while Sonoma State's Thomas Lee walked three and struck out one batter. Both pitchers gave up three hits. 

Six CSUMB pitchers saw action with Paolinetti picking up the win after facing four batters in the eighth.  Junior #Paul Brock# nabbed his second save of the season.

Game 2: CSUMB 4, SSU 3 (13 Innings)
Box Score

After four scoreless innings of play, Sonoma State broke through with three runs on four hits in the fifth. 

The Otters would score a run in the fifth and sixth to close the gap to 3-2. 

With two outs in the ninth, the Otter rallied when sophomore #Tommy George# drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on an error on Sonoma State's catcher.  Junior #Tony Hernandez# doubled down the right line to tie the game at 3-3. 

Both teams had numerous chances to take the victory in the extra innings of play, but CSUMB was the one that finally got it done. With one out, sophomore #Tyler Young# and George hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners.  Hernandez was intentionally walked to set up Nelson with the game-winning run on a single over SSU's center fielder.

Paolinetti recorded his second win of the day after four and two-thirds, giving up two hits while striking out three batters.  SSU's Phil Lindiger picked up his first loss of the season after one and one-third of work.

Game 3: CSUMB 2, SSU 1
Box Score

It took five and half innings of play before either team crossed the plate with CSUMB drawing first blood.   Nelson hit a RBI double to right center, scoring senior #Greg Fujii# who led off with a single.  DeCastro's single moved Nelson to third.  George hit a sacrifice fly to score Nelson and put the Otters up 2-0.

The Seawolves threatened in their final at bat by scoring a run on single by Randy Wells.  Max Kirk, a pinch runner for Wells, was called out on a throw from Young to Nelson when he attempted to steal second. 

Appino struck out eight in his seven innings of work, allowing three hits and no walks.