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SEASIDE, Calif. -- The Cal State Monterey Bay softball team begins CCAA play this week on a roll, matching its best 10–game start (8–2 overall) in school history as it heads to Rohnert Park to face 2011 NCAA Tournament qualifier Sonoma State in a four–game series starting Friday (Feb. 17).

“Last week's tournament was a good learning experience for us,” says CSUMB Head Coach Andrea Kenney. “Now we have to get ready for a huge series, especially so early in the season. It's been competitive since the start (SSU leads 17–13), so I expect this weekend to be a battle.”

Sonoma State (7–0) was picked to finish third in the CCAA this season while CSUMB was picked to finish in a tie for sixth, yet the teams enter the week owning two of the three best marks among CCAA teams this season. These games will be the CCAA openers for both squads.

CSUMB is winning with all facets of its game. Though early, its batting average (.371) and earned run average (2.15) are on school record setting paces while its fielding percentage (.962) would rank No. 2 on the Otter list.

The entire Otter starting lineup enters the week hitting .300 or better, led by freshman Nina Villanueva (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS) at .483 and freshman P/2B Cori Reinhardt (Riverside Poly HS) at .480. Seniors Jamie Moon (Torrance HS) and Jackie Serna (Corona HS) also top the .400 level at .438 and .417 respectively.

In the circle, Reinhardt has been dazzling her first collegiate fortnight, going 4–0 with a 1.12 ERA in her first four outings. Sophomore Kylie Linnane (Salinas/Notre Dame HS) is 2–0 with a 2.33 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 12 innings.

CSUMB will return to Seaside for its 2012 home openers Feb. 24 and 25 against Cal State San Bernardino. First pitch will be noon on the 24th and 11 a.m. on the 25th.

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Otter Softball Odds & Ends


LIVING LARGE: The Otters have not just been scoring prolifically, they've been scoring in bunches so far this season. CSUMB has scored at least two runs in an inning in all 10 games and have posted a four-run (or more) inning in 9 of 10 games. In total, the Otters have scored multiple runs in an inning 19 times already.

HAVE MERCY: The Otters won three consecutive games via the 8–run rule at the Desert Stinger Classic (vs. Simon Fraser, Western Oregon and Notre Dame de Namur). It was the first time ever they have pulled off that feat.

BEST…START…EVER: CSUMB's 8–2 start matches the 2010 team for the best 10–game opening salvo in school history. In case you were wondering, no Otter team has ever started 9–2.

(UN)LUCKY NUMBER SEVEN: Central Washington's 5–3 upset of the Otters in the finale of MSUB Desert Stinger Classic ended the Otter win streak at seven games. That fell just one win shy of the school record eight consecutive wins, set twice previously (last from Feb. 5–20, 2010).

VILLANUEVA'S STREAK ENDS: Freshman first baseman Nina Villanueva opened her collegiate career by hitting safely in nine consecutive games. Here streak ended Sunday against Central Washington.