FULL NOTEBOOK IN PDF FORMAT


SEASIDE, Calif. -- After opening the 2012 season with 12 consecutive road games, the Cal State Monterey Bay softball team will lift the lid on the home portion of its schedule this weekend when it hosts 2012 NCAA Tournament qualifier Cal State San Bernardino in a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday (Feb. 24–25) at the Otter Sports Complex.

First pitch will be noon Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.

CSUMB (11–3, 3–1 CCAA) is coming off a successful start to its CCAA campaign, winning three of four at highly regarded Sonoma State last weekend. The Otters will look to build on that foundation with 12 consecutive home games over the next three weeks.

The Otters have been getting in done in all facets of the game, led by a strong offense that leads the CCAA in runs (91), RBIs (82) and is No. 2 in batting average (.331). Freshman P/2B Cori Reinhardt (Riverside Poly HS) is the team's top hitter so far, carrying a .526 average and eight extra base hits (5/2/1) into the weekend. Senior center fielder Jamie Moon (Torrance HS) hits .446 while freshman first baseman Nina Villanueva (San Diego/Mt. Camel HS) sits at .436. Villanueva and shortstop Jackie Serna (Corona/Colony HS) share the team lead with 19 RBIs.

In the circle, freshman Cori Reinhardt (Riverside Poly HS) and sophomore Kylie Linnane (Salinas/Notre Dame HS) form the core of a solid staff. Reinhardt is 5–1 with a 1.11 ERA while Linnane brings a 4–0 record and a 1.44 ERA into the weekend.

CSUMB figures to have its hands full with a San Bernardino squad that opened its CCAA season with a 3–1 series win over San Francisco State last weekend. Senior Alex Mitchell and junior Britney Butler top the Coyote hitting chart at .463 and .406 respectively. Courtney Wilhelms and Carly Land have three wins each to lead the staff.

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Otter Softball Odds & Ends


LIVE STATS: Remember, for those who can't make the games, live stats for all Otter home softball games (and most road games) are available online at www.OtterAthletics.com. Simply click on LIVE STATS from the calendar on the front  or click DETAILS for the game you want to follow on the Otter softball schedule page.

FREE TEXT MESSAGE UPDATES: If you're not near a computer on game day, you may sign up for FREE in-game text updates sent durectly to your phone or other mobile device. CLICK HERE for more information or to sign up today.

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 13 of 14 games and have posted a four-run (or more) inning in nine games. In total, the Otters have scored multiple runs in an inning 23 times in 14 games.

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 11–3 start matches the 2010 team for the best 14–game opening salvo in school history. In case you were wondering, no Otter team has ever started 12–3.

(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).

HONORS KEEP ROLLING IN: In the better late than never department, the all–tournament team from the MSUB Desert Stinger Classic was announce at the end of last week. Jackie Serna earned first team honors while Nina Villanueva was a second team pick from amongst the 28–team field.