CHICO, Calif. — Senior Bianca Noriega (Ventura/Camarillo HS) used her arm and her bat to power Cal State Monterey Bay to a series–opening split Saturday afternoon at Chico State. Chico scored in its final at bats to win the opener 4–3 before Noriega picked up her first victory of the season with a 10–4 win in the nightcap.

In addition to her complete game performance in the circle, Noriega went 2-for-4 with a pair of double and two RBIs to help CSUMB overcome and early 4–0 deficit in Game 2. She saw her 11–game hitting streak end with an 0-for-2 opening game but did reach base safely in both games to run that streak to 15 games dating back to last season.

CSUMB scored three runs in the third and three more in the fourth before salting the game away with a 4–run sixth inning to secure its first CCAA win of 2016. That was more than enough support for Noriega, who threw her first collegiate complete game in just her second collegiate start. Sixteen of her 18 pitching appearances as an Otter have come in a relief role.

CSUMB rallied from 3–1 down in the opener by scoring twice in the sixth inning on an Anneliese Lopez leadoff homer and a Marielle Valdez RBI double. But Ari Marsh spoiled the comeback attempt with a 2–out RBI single in the home half of the sixth.

Lopez and Valdez were the only Otters to hit safely in both games Saturday. Lopez finished 4-for-9 while Valdez went 2-for-6.

CSUMB and Chico State will conclude their 4–game series with a doubleheader Sunday in Chico.