BOX SCORE SEASIDE, Calif. – No. 24 Cal State Monterey Bay baseball's second series split was a tad bittersweet with a 12-7 loss Sunday to No. 4 Chico State at the Otter Sports Complex.
 
In the first four weekends of conference action, the Otters have earned two series victories (San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay) and two series splits (No. 4 Chico State and at Cal State L.A.).
 
Seniors Jason Merjano (San Ramon, Calif./Sierra College) and David Garcia (Gilroy, Calif./Mission College) each had two hits for the Otters.
 
After only two and half innings, the Otters found themselves down 11-0 to Chico State after giving up seven hits and making three errors.
 
Garcia put CSUMB on the board on Victor Rasor-Thompson's (San Diego, Calif./Univ. of San Diego) third-inning sacrifice bunt down the first base line.  Garcia singled up the middle to start the inning.
 
In the fourth, Garcia doubled to right field to plate senior Brian Haggett (Hollister, Calif./West Valley College) and Merjano who reached first on a walk and single respectively.
 
After the Wildcats added one more run in the fifth, CSUMB had its largest scoring inning of the game with four in the sixth.  Bonner led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on Merjano's single up the middle.  Senior Ronnie Fhurong loaded the bases with a single to right center field.  Senior Jesse Olson came through in the clutch with a double down the right line to push Bonner and Merjano home.  A ground-out by Rasor-Thompson and a Tommy George (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove HS) triple scored the final two runs of the game.
 
Pierson Jeremiah led the Wildcats with three hits, two runs and two RBIs.  Starter Mike Botelho, who normally closes for the Wildcats, earned his first win while Sean Martin picked up his second save.
 
CSUMB starter Josh Eagle dropped his fourth decision on the season, lasting 1 1/3 innings after being tagged for seven runs – four earned – on three hits and four walks.
 
CSUMB (15-8, 10-6 CCAA) take a break from conference play next weekend, hosting Western Oregon in a three-game series.