SEASIDE, Calif. -- With rain threatening the final two games of the four–game series between Cal State Monterey Bay and Azusa Pacific, game one began an hour earlier on Friday morning at the Otter Sports Complex. The Cougars scored in the first innings for the third consecutive game and held that lead eventually winning 10–4. The Otters would find themselves playing from behind in the series finalé, but surrendered a one–run lead in the top of the seventh inning, to fall 5–4 to APU.

GAME 1 | AZUSA PACIFIC 10, CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 4 -- BOX SCORE
For the third consecutive game Azusa Pacific was able to turn the scoreboard lights on in the top of the first inning, this time filling it with three runs, staking a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Ten Cougar runs on 13 hits were highlighted by second baseman Daniel Martin, who put on an offensive show raking two home runs – one a grand slam – and either drove in or scored all of the APU runs (7 RBIs, 3 runs scored).,

The CSUMB offense was held in check by APU starter Jacob Cage who threw five solid innings of four–hit ball, striking out six. It wasn't until the fifth inning when the Otters got on the board, only trailing by two runs at that point, 4–2. However, two runs in the seventh and four runs in the eighth inning gave the Cougars an eight run lead. Two runs in the bottom of the ninth for the Otters would not be enough,, as they faced the 10-4 loss in the morning bout.,

Offensively for the Otters, Curtis Gomez (Watsonville/St. Francis HS) was the only player to record two hits in the game. Gomez recorded an RBI, along with three other Otters.,

GAME 2 | AZUSA PACIFIC 5, CAL STATE MONTEREY BAY 4 -- BOX SCORE
After giving up three runs in the first inning, CSUMB starting pitcher Jeff Owen (Clovis East HS) settled down and continued to pitch through four innings, striking out four Cougars in the process. The Otters turned three singles and a balk into two runs in the bottom frame of the first inning and trailed by one early on. The score remained the same until Kevin Davidson (Yucaipa HS) found his pitched and drilled a two–run homerun giving CSUMB the 4–3 lead and Davidson first hit and RBIs of the season.

Jacob Cox (Madera/Liberty HS) came in on relief of Owen and threw two innings of scoreless baseball, pitching through the sixth inning allowing only one hit, coupled by three strikeouts. The top of seventh inning brought Will Rosado (Clovis East HS) to close out the game, however, APU's Martin had other ideas. After a one–out single by Sean Aspinall, set the table for Martin, who blasted his third homerun of the day off of the CSUMB scoreboard in left field, giving the Cougars a 5–4 lead. A three up, three down bottom of the seventh for the Otters settled it, handing CSUMB a heartbreaking early–season loss.

Ty Morris (Royal Oaks/North Monterey Country HS) contributing two of the eight Otter hits. Kevin Davidson third–inning homerun was the first of the season for CSUMB. The Otters fall to 1–3 on the season.,

Cal State Monterey Bay returns to action next Friday, February 13 to begin a four–game series against Western Oregon University. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at the Otter Sports Complex.
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