CHICO, Calif. -- Two Chico State runs in the seventh inning proved to be the difference maker in the game, as the Cal State Monterey Bay Baseball team settled for a series split after a 4–6 loss on Sunday afternoon at Nettleton Stadium.

CSUMB scored its first run after two batters in the top of the first following a lead off triple by Ty Morris (Royal Oaks, Calif. / North Monterey County HS). Curtis Gomez (Watsonville, Calif. / St. Francis HS) drove in Morris from third on an RBI groundout to give the Otters a 1–0 lead. However, the small lead would not last as several CSUMB mental miscues in the bottom half of the first inning allowed Chico to put four runs on the board to take a 4–1 lead.

The Otters got one back in the third inning on another RBI groundout, this time off the bat of Brian Hamm (Pleasanton, Calif. / Amador Valley HS) narrowing the gap to two runs. CSUMB got one step closer to tying the game with help from a wild pitch and a passed ball allowing Myles Hager (Tarzana, Calif / Chaminade College Prep) to drive in Hamm from third base on the third RBI groundout of the game.

Chico State padded its lead in the seventh inning on a two–RBI single by Tyler Madrid, giving the hosts a 6–3 lead. CSUMB would not go quietly, closing the deficit to a two run hole, 4–6, in the top of the seventh inning. However, after a Wildcat pitching change Hager flew out to center field to end the threat.

The two runs for the Wildcats in the seventh inning proved to be huge as the Otters could not be able to get over the hump and complete a comeback win, settling for a series split on the road.

Cody Gappa (Corning, Calif. / Red Bluff HS) was faced with the loss, and moves to 3–3 on the season. Hamm led the Otter offense going 2–for–4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Morris contributed a 2–for–4 day at the plate as well, with two runs scored and his third triple of the season.

Over their eight game road trip the Otters post a 3–5 record and move to 20–12, 16–8 CCAA on the season. Monterey Bay will return home and begin a home–and–home 4–game series against San Francisco State on Thursday, April 2. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.