BOX SCORE 1 | BOX SCORE 2

SEASIDE, Calif. — While the Cal State Monterey Bay softball team took time to remember its past on senior day, its young players gave a glimpse of a bright future Saturday afternoon at the Otter Sports Complex.

Visiting Sonoma State took the final two games of the tightly–contested series, winning 2–1 and 5–3, but even that couldn't spoil the opportunity to say farewell to Otter seniors Stacey Campos, Angelina Orozco, Theresa Torres and Skyler Valdivia. Campos, Torres and Valdivia each enjoyed their best individual seasons in 2013 while Orozco—just the fifth four–year starter in CSUMB softball history—tips her cap ranked among the CSUMB top five in 13 different statistical categories.

On the field, Sonoma pitched around Cori Reinhardt (Riverside Poly), walking the sophomore All–American four times after she drove in her 51st run of the season with an RBI single in the first inning of the opener. But freshman designated player Bianca Noriega (Ventura/Camarillo HS) made the Seawolves pay for that strategy, finishing her best day at the collegiate level 4–for–7 with a double and her second home run.

Sonoma came from behind to win the opener, tying the game on Keisi Chinen's seventh homer of the season leading off the third before Ali Palermo poked a 2–out single down the right field line in the sixth to drive home the game–winner.

Noriega put the Otters on top again in Game 2, following a 2–out walk to Reinhardt with a laser to dead center field that, if it hadn't gone over the fence, might well have ripped a hole right through it.

But Sonoma responded with a big fourth inning, converting a walk, three singles and an error into fours runs.
Trailing 5–2, the Otters scratched their way back in the bottom of the seventh. Campos scored on a 2–out single by Valdivia for CSUMB's third run. A walk to Reinhardt brought the winning run to the plate before the rally ended.

CSUMB finishes its eight season of NCAA softball with a 27–28 record. Next up for the Otters is awards season, beginning with the announcement of the All–CCAA teams next week.