BOX SCORE
SEASIDE, Calif. – In a 4 hour, 30 minute marathon that displayed the character of the 2012 Otters, senior
Jared DeCastro's (Torrance, Calif./L.A. Harbor College) RBI in the 16th inning provided the winning margin as the Cal Sate Monterey Bay baseball team defeated Cal State San Bernardino by the score of 7-6 Sunday. The Otters clinched its fourth series of the season, taking 3-of-4 from the Coyotes.
“This is a great win for our team and our program,” said CSUMB Head Coach
Walt White. “It took every guy on our roster to get it done. I am proud of the way we competed, battled back, and ultimately broke through with the game winner. In the CCAA, every win is difficult."
The finale saw the two clubs combine to use 37 players including 11 pitchers and tally 25 hits.
DeCastro beat out a double play ball as pinch hitter
Garrett Gemgnani (Los Angeles, Calif./Culver City HS) snuck across the plate for the winning run.
While DeCastro's fielder's choice proved to be the game-winner, it was a day of many twists and turns. Extra
innings were forced after
Jason Merjano's (San Ramon, Calif./Sierra College) RBI double knotted it at 4-4 after the Coyotes scored two runs in their half of the frame to take a one run advantage.
CSUMB never would have seen the 16th; however, without the never-die attitude that existed after the Otters saw CSUSB take a 6-4 lead in the top of the 15th on Curtis Cassise's RBI double and later scored on a single by Edwin Mendoza.
Junior
Ronnie Fhurong (Hollister, Calif./San Benito HS) hit into a bases loaded double play in the 15th, scoring
Chris Lopiccolo (Monterey, Calif./UCSB). DeCastro then tied it up by diving home on a passed ball.
CSUSB scored first today, taking a 1-0 lead in the second on a two-out, RBI single by Jake Pinkerton.
The Otters took the lead away from the Coyotes in the fourth, scoring two runs on a CSUSB error.
The Coyotes followed suit with their own run in their next half of the frame on a CSUMB error to equalize it.
Merjano took advantage of the strong winds from the west with a home run over the left field wall to put CSUMB back on top at 3-2 in the seventh.
Freshman
Jeff Owen (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East HS) had his third no-decision outing after going six innings of three-hits, five strikeouts and one earned run performance. Junior
Jake Paolinetti (Santa Clara, Calif./San Jose CC) also had a stellar showing in his six innings after taking over in the 10th. Freshman
Steven Farnworth (Newhall, Calif./West Ranch HS) (2-1) picked up the win, coming into the game in the 16th.
“This one puts us in a good position going into our bye weekend but the schedule sure doesn't get any easier,” White said. “We will be hitting the road against two very good teams in UCSD and Chico State. In the CCAA, its survival of the fittest.”
The Otters take a 14-day break from games before heading south to play UC San Diego March 9-11 in La Jolla, Calif.
