Coach White on Chico State series split: “This past weekend was a hard fought series between two very good teams.  Our pitching on Saturday was outstanding and we seemed to really come into our own offensively.  It's disappointing we were not able to complete the series win on Sunday, but we showed a competitive spirit that is representative of a championship caliber team.  I was proud of our effort, but we still have not reached our full potential as a team.  It is encouraging to see our progress as a team and our best baseball is coming.”
 
      Coach White on facing Western Oregon this weekend: “This upcoming Western Oregon series may not have any implications within our league standings, but there are significant west region implications.  Western Oregon is always in the hunt for west region championship considerations and this series has the possibility of affecting the west region rankings at the end of the season.  This will be another difficult test for us and we are once again looking forward to it.” 

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LEADING OFF: The Otters conclude their non-conference schedule with a three-game series against Western Oregon March 15-16.  Take note that Friday's game has a 3 p.m. start time (1 hour later due to Daylight Savings taking effect on Sunday, March 10).  Saturday's doubleheader has first pitch at 11 a.m.
 
SCOUTING WESTERN OREGON: The Wolves (11-8, 6-2 GNAC) began their 2013 campaign with a 3-4 record against CCAA teams.  WOU won a three-game series (2-1) at Cal State Stanislaus Feb. 1-2 before dropping a four-game series (1-3) in Rohnert Park to Sonoma State Feb. 8-10. With 12 consecutive GNAC titles and picked to win again in 2013, the Wolves are off to a 6-2 start with series wins over Montana State-Billings and Northwest Nazarene.  Players to Watch: Daniel McNabb (.380 BA, 27 H, 3 3B, 17 RBIs, 10 BB), Blake Miller (.299 BA, 23 H, 11 R, 12 RBI),
 
LAST MEETING WITH WOLVES: It has been five years since CSUMB has played Western Oregon. The Otters dropped a four-game series (3-1) in Monmouth back in 2008.  After falling in the first three games by scores of 10-4, 3-1 and 12-5, the Otters prevented a series sweep with a 7-5 victory in the series finale.
 
ALL-TIME VERSUS GNAC SCHOOLS: CSUMB has a slight edge (13-12) in the all-time series against members of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with the Otters splitting with Central Washington 2-2 earlier this season. In 2012, the Otters won the four-game series against CWU.
 
PREVIOUS TIME OUT: The No. 24 CSUMB Otters earned a series split with No. 4 Chico State last weekend.  After falling 6-0 in the opener, the Otters responded with a doubleheader sweep that included a 14-2 victory followed by a 3-0 shutout.  On Sunday, CSUMB found itself down 11-0 after three innings and staged a comeback that fell short at 12-7. Senior Jason Merjano (San Ramon, Calif./Sierra College) had another great weekend, hitting .400 (6-for-16) with five runs. Sophomore RHP Jeff Owen (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East) earned his fifth victory of the season in Saturday's nightcap, a complete game shutout. 
 
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN:  Senior Tommy George (Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove HS) became CSUMB's all-time career hit leader (145) during the CSULA series, passing Jacob Flores (2007-10) in the record books. He added most game started (132) and games played (154) during the Chico State series. With 63 RBIs, George now has his sites set on passing Matt DeJesus's record of 79. George already has three other career records; stolen bases (50), triples (15) and runs scored (82).  Senior Ronnie Fhurong (Hollister, Calif./San Benito HS) is also making his way up the RBI career record ladder with 60. 
 
RECORDS ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN II:  With his win on Saturday, sophomore RHP Jeff Owen has tied the career record for wins with Aaron Appino (Rancho Cordova, Calif./Sacramento City College) and Jake Paolinetti (Santa Clara, Calif./San Jose City College) .  The duo each notched nine victories in 2011-12 season. 
 
2013 NCBWA REGIONAL RANKING:  Despite splitting with first place Chico State, the Otters (15-8) dropped down to the No. 5 spot in the latest NCBWA West Regional poll this week. Chico State (13-3) remains in the top spot for the fourth consecutive week, followed by No. 2 Cal State L.A. (15-8), No. 3 Sonoma State (13-5) and No. 4 Dixie State (11-3) and then No. 5 CSUMB (15-8).  Rounding out the top 10 are No. 6 Cal State East Bay (17-6), No. 7 Hawaii Pacific (14-4), No. 8 Grand Canyon (12-5), No. 9 Cal Poly Pomona (14-9) and Cal Baptist (11-7)
 
HISTORIC SERIES SWEEP:  The Otters achieved their first ever series sweep at Point Loma Nazarene to open the 2013 season (Feb. 1-2).  Senior third baseman David Garcia broke open a 3-3 tie in the ninth inning on a grand slam leading to a 7-3 CSUMB victory.  Never trailing in the entire series, CSUMB added two more victories on Saturday with final scores of 6-1 and 8-5.
 
2012 ALL-CCAA HONORS:  A program record-high four Otters were selected to the All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) teams in 2012. Second baseman David Garcia  and right-hander Jeff Owen (Clovis, Calif./Clovis East) were named to the second team while shortstop Jason Merjano (San Ramon, Calif./Sierra College) and right-fielder Tommy George earned honorable mention nods.
 
POST SEASON HONORS:  Three Otters earned All-West Region teams in 2012, another first in program history.  Senior second baseman David Garcia and sophomore right-handed pitcher Jeff Owen were selected to the Daktronics All-West Region second team.  Owen joined senior shortstop Jason Merjano on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) honorable mention team. Garcia also got selected to the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) first team.  

WEST REGION ROOKIE HONORS:  Starting right-handed pitcher Jeff Owen was named the 2012 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) West Region Freshman Pitcher of the Year after finishing his rookie campaign with a 2.18 ERA. He allowed just 15 earned runs in his 62 innings.  On March 10, Owen tossed the program's second shutout complete game as he held the Tritons of UC San Diego to only one hit while striking out seven and walking none.

GOLDEN GLOVE:  First baseman Brian Haggett earned the program's first-ever American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-West Region Gold Glove award for his near spotless play in the field. Haggett started 48 games at first base for the Otters, recording 471 putouts and 18 assists. He committed just one error for a fielding percentage of .998.

BY THE NUMBERS:  The 2012 squad under the direction of then second-year coach Walt White achieved new heights in its second consecutive record-breaking season:

• Most Wins - 26 (21, 2011)
• Most Conference Wins - 19 (18, 2011)
• Most Triples - 17 (11, 2010/2007/2006)
• Lowest Opponent Batting Average - .267 (.269, 2011)
• Lowest ERA - 4.01 (4.68, 2011)
• Fewest Earned Runs Allowed - 189 (216, 2011)
• Fewest Runs Allowed - 244 (273, 2011)
• Fewest Doubles Allowed - 69 (92, 2011)
• Highest Fielding Percentage - .964 (.962, 2011)
• Most Caught Stealing - 36 (29, 2009)
• Fewest Stolen Bases Allowed - 52 (71, 2008)
• Most Strikeouts/9 inning games - 6.18 (5.76, 2007)

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