SEASIDE, Calif. — The No. 5 ranked Cal State Monterey Bay softball team took care of business—and got a little help—Friday to clinch a CCAA Tournament berth and move back into first place with six games remaining in the CCAA race.

The Otters earned a pair of run-rule wins over visiting Cal State Stanislaus by scores of 9-0 and 9-1 while Humboldt State split a doubleheader at Chico. That allowed CSUMB (39-9, 23-7 CCAA) to catch Humboldt State (37-11, 23-7) heading into Saturday's action.

CSUMB earned its 10th and 11th wins via the run rule this season, tying the school record for the most such victories set in 2010 and matched in 2012. They did it by combining a pair of dominating pitching performances with an offense that put crooked numbers on the scoreboard in five of its eight at bats.

In the circle, Cori Reinhardt (Riverside Poly) moved with one victory of tying Lindsey Clarkson's (Fresno/Central HS) school record of 25 set last season by tossing a 3-hit shutout in the opener. She improved to 24-2 overall while striking out five and walking one in her sixth shutout of the season.

For her part, Clarkson settled down in fine fashion after Stanislaus loaded the bases with one out in the first inning of Game 2. She fanned the next three batters as part of a run in which she retired 11 of 13 Warriors. She also supplied herself all the offense she would need with a 2-run homer in the third inning.

Clarkson (13-6) finished the game with seven strikeouts, with an wind-blown single and a 2-out, infield hit in the fifth inning spoiling her bid for her fifth shutout.

The Otters flexed their collective muscle at the plate, combining for three home runs and seven extra bases hits Friday. Madison Casto (Sunnyvale/Homestead HS) accounted for three of those with a pair of doubles in the opener and one more in the nightcap.

Alissa Greenhaw (Galt/Cosumnes River College) led off the nightcap with her second home run of the season. Bianca Noriega (Ventura/Camarillo HS) added her team-leading eighth homer in the second game as well.

Noriega finished the day 4-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs to pace the 18-run, 18-hit Otter attack. Casto (4-for-5) and Vanessa Avila (Dana Point/Santiago Canyon College) (3-for-4) also hit safely in both games for CSUMB.

The Otters and Stanislaus will finish their 4-game series with a doubleheader Saturday at noon at the Otter Sports Complex. Following the doubleheader, the Otters will honor seniors Danica Arterburn, Avila, Greenhaw, Nicole Pires, Reinhardt and Trina Solario, who will be playing their final regular season home games.