STOCKTON, Calif. -- Kory Groves (Citrus Heights, Calif. / Oakmont HS), and Justin Donatella faced off in an old fashioned pitcher's duel for almost eight innings. However, defensive miscues by the Otters were the pitfall in an eventual 5–2 loss in the first game of the CCAA Championship Tournament at Klein Family Field.

Groves pitched 7.2 innings of three hit baseball and was scoreless through seven. The senior pitched like a First Team All–CCAA member in his first start of the season, holding the Tritons hitless into the fifth inning. Groves final line featured zero earned runs, and five strikeouts.

His counterpart, Donatella, was equally as hitless as he flexed his CCAA Pitcher of the Year muscles. The junior pitched eight shutout innings, allowing two hits, while striking out nine in his ninth win of the season.

After UCSD put up a five spot in the eighth inning, the Otters tried for a comeback in the ninth. CSUMB got two runs on a two–RBI single by Chris Blanton (Burlingame HS), but with the bases loaded a Matt Urakami (San Jose, Calif. / Branham HS) strikeout and a Will Rosado (Clovis East HS) fielder's choice grounder ended the comeback hopes.

Monterey Bay will face Cal State Dominguez Hills in the first elimination game. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. on Friday.