BOX SCORE SEASIDE, Calif. – The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball team (21-10, 13-8) scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Sonoma State (21-10, 13-8) 5-3 in the series opener on Friday afternoon.

Senior Ronnie Fhurong (Hollister/San Benito) drove in the first three runs, going 2-for-3 at the plate.  Senior David Garcia (Gilroy/Mission College) also recorded two hits to improve his batting average to a team-best .330 on the season. 

Trailing 3-1, the Otters rallied in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, seniors Tommy George (Elk Grove) and Jason Merjano (San Ramon/Sierra College) hit back-to-back singles up the middle. SSU replaced starter Taylor Herbert with Austin Wiggins who immediately walked Garcia to load the bases.  Fhurong hit a 2 RBI double to right center to even the score to 3-3. Garcia touched home on a wild pitch and Fhurong followed on a single by junior Michael Lonsdale (Castro Valley/Chabot College).

Sonoma State spread out three runs in the third, fourth and seventh innings while out hitting the Otters 11-7 and leaving 10 runners on base.  Devin Zenn and Scott Harkin led the Seawolves, each going 3-for-4 with a run and RBI.

Fhurong drove in CSUMB's first run of the game with a two-out RBI single up the middle in the fifth. 

Junior Chris Daniels (Citrus Heights/Sierra College) tossed six and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs – two earned – and nine hits for a no decision.  He struck out six batters and walked two.  Freshman Brett Hammond (Lake Forest/El Toro) picked up his first win after forcing a ground out in the seventh.

Wiggins took the loss after relinquishing two runs on one hit and two walks in only one-third inning. 

The Otters are back in action against Sonoma State on Saturday, April 6 with a twinbill starting at 11 a.m.  Listen to Rob Ponce's play-by-play in the doubleheader opener by clicking here.