BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

SEASIDE, Calif. — Solid pitching performances from sophomore Cori Reinhardt (Riverside Poly) and freshman Lindsey Clarkson (Fresno/Central HS) and plenty of timely hitting provided the perfect recipe for a Cal State Monterey Bay softball sweep of visiting Montana State–Billings Tuesday afternoon at the Otter Sports Complex. CSUMB won the opener 5–1 and the nightcap 6–1.

Reinhardt and Clarkson combined to allow just 10 hits and two runs in 14 innings to help CSUMB (21–16) move five games over .500 for the first time this season. MSUB, which had won four of its last five games entering the doubleheader, fell to 8–16 overall.

Reinhardt also stayed hot at the plate, hitting safely in both games to run her current hitting streak to 10 games while extending her school–record streak of reaching base safely to 38 games.

The last time these teams met in Seaside came last May in Game 2 of the NCAA West Regional, a 12–4 Otter victory. CSUMB didn't need that kind of firepower Tuesday, however, as its pitching shut down a Yellowjacket lineup that entered the games hitting .295 and averaging exactly five runs per game.

Reinhardt was masterful in the opener. She flirted with her first collegiate no–hitter, allowing just one walk through 5 1/3 innings until Aubrey Conceicao's blooper down the right field line broke the spell. Emily Osborn added an RBI single later in the sixth to spoil the shutout bid.

For her part, MSUB starter Amanda Todd kept the Otter bats in check until the fourth, when Reinhardt led off with a walk before eventually coming around to score on a throwing error. Reinhardt added her own insurance in the fifth inning by driving in two runs with a single up the middle.

Billings jumped on top in the first inning of Game 2, scoring when Cori Gammon deftly avoided a tag at the plate following Rose Harrington's double to the gap in left center. But the Otters answered right back, loading the bases with three consecutive single to lead off their half of the first. The Yellowjackets got one out before Skyler Valdivia (Beaumont HS) beat the throw home on Nikki Rodriguez's (San Jose/Evergreen Valley HS) grounder to second.

Mariah Nisbet (San Ramon/Ohlone College) added what proved to be the winning run with a single to right two batters later.

An RBI ground out by Reinhardt and a two–run single by Lauren Ermitano (Hayward/Ohlone College) plated three runs in the third to break the game open. Ermitano added an RBI double in the fifth inning to drive home Reinhardt and close the scoring.

Reinhardt finished the day 4–for–6 with two runs and three RBIs to lead both teams. Ermitano, Valdivia and Angelina Orozco (Clovis East HS) added three hits apiece for CSUMB.

Osborn was the only Yellowjacket to hit safely in both games, finishing the doubleheader 2–for–6 with an RBI and a stolen base.

CSUMB will be off until Friday, when it meets MSUB again in its opening game of the 2013 Mizuno Tournament of Champions in Turlock.