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STOCKTON, Calif. — The No. 6 Cal State Monterey Bay softball team proved quick studies Saturday, learning from Friday's gut–wrenching loss to win two games and advance to championship Sunday against defending NCAA Champion UC San Diego at the CCAA Softball Championship Tournament on Arnaiz Field.

In what was essentially the debutante postseason performance for the young CSUMB squad Friday, the Otters appeared unsteady and unsure of their environment while losing the lead and the game in the seventh inning against Chico State. Saturday, freshman pitcher Cori Reinhardt (Riverside Poly HS) led a more confident crew to a 2–0 win over No. 9 Cal State Dominguez Hills and a 4–0 win over No. 19 Chico State in a pair of elimination games.

Reinhardt tossed a two–hitter in the win over Dominguez Hills then followed that immediately with a three–hit shutout of Chico State. She fanned only five batters in the two complete game wins, but with her defense now steady and sure behind her, she didn't need strikeouts.

CSUMB survived its first elimination game with what might have been its biggest win of the season to date against Dominguez Hills. The Toros have held the slimmest of leads in the NCAA West Region rankings, thanks in large part to a 2–0 record against the Otters this season. While there are no guarantees, the Otters needed to beat the Toros to have a chance to move up to the No. 1 spot in the final ranking.

Things didn't look good for the Otters early as the first 11 batters failed to put a ball in play against Toro starter Stephanie Jimenez (nine strikeouts, a walk and a hit batter). But Alyssa Rivera (Fontana HS/Riverside CC) finally ended the no–hit effort with a fifth inning single.

With the spell broken, the Otters touched up Jimenez with a two–out rally in the sixth. A line drive single by Nina Villanueva (San Diego/Mt. Carmel HS) opened the doors on the two–run inning, Jackie Serna (Corona HS) and Jamie Moon (Torrance HS) capped with run–scoring doubles.

The Toros responded with their best scoring chance of the game in their half of the sixth. A walk and a one–out error put runners on the corner for Jimenez, who hit a looping liner to right. Skyler Valdivia (Beaumont HS) positioned herself perfectly and threw a frozen rope home to nail Khryssi Steele and end the inning.

The rematch with Chico State also began as a pitcher's duel between Reinhardt and Jessica McDermott. The law firm of Villanueva, Serna and Moon broke the seal again, with Villanueva walking, Serna singling and Moon doubling Villanueva home with the only run Reinhardt would need. The Otter offense added insurance by scoring twice without a hit in the sixth inning before a Serna infield knock in the seventh made the final 4–0.

Now, CSUMB (44–11 overall) will have to beat UCSD (34–18) twice Sunday to earn its second CCAA Tournament title (2009). The first game will be played a noon. Should CSUMB win, the winner–take–all–championship game will take play immediately afterwards.